Working with Youth: Education and Learning for Change Essay Answer

Introduction

The overall write-up will highlight the issues of mental health specifically among the young generations or individuals. Apart from that, this essay will highlight the role of the young worker to support young people having poor mental well-being.

Youth work is a clear process of education that has been adopted all over a wide range of settings majorly to promote the educational, social and personal development of a young individual. Activities that deliberately seek to have a positive impact on the young generations are commonly referred to as youth work (NYCI, 2023). Apart from that, it is basically an accumulation of activities that are loosely oriented that have been reinvented, examined, redefined described over time. Youth work is basically a practice mainly which concentrates on moral principles and connections. It encourages adolescents' individuals to make contributions to the growth of society, values opinions of the young people and combats unfairness in every developmental aspect. Young individuals take part in voluntary activities that improve their connections to society as well as their strengths that society (Council of Europe , 2014). Mental health disorders among young people lead to an increase in the use of drugs, higher sexual behavior risks, depression & anxiety along with violence. The key cause of the poor mental health of young individuals is due to changes in emotional, physical social including vulnerable to violence, abuse or poverty. It is very important to create a strong relationship with young individuals having poor mental health, use wellness or relaxation programs, reduce stress & anxiety, learn fresh skills and be active physically. The key theories that will be discussed in this essay are humanistic, cognitive, behaviorism and psychodynamic.

Background context

The essay will be based on the transformational process in youth work. Apart from that, the write-up will include critical discussions of strategies for working with adolescent individuals that encourage positive transformation.

The educational department stated that when youngsters reach adolescence level, their health drops with 13 to 15 years old convening lower satisfaction of life than kids aged between 10 to 12 years old. As per some studies, nearly 50% of mental health challenges begin to appear by the middle of the teenage years and 70% by the mid-twenties (NAMI, 2023). The survey of Scottish Health showed in the year 2018, that 20% of masculine and 27% of females between the age group of 16 to 24 years showed possible signs of mental health disorders. In this current scenario, one of the key and common issue or challenge that the young people or generation are facing is mental health disorder or poor mental well-being. In recent times, due to poor mental health eating disorders, suicidal behaviors, substance abuse and depression rates are increasing at a rapid rate among young individuals. Young work plays an important part to improve the mental health of young individuals (Jurewicz, 2015).

It is a non-formal study area where engagement is optional and young individuals can select what activities or events they desire to get involved in as per passions or interests. When young individuals take part to engage and study, young work is typically an approach that seeks to change the way they behave through a wide range of informal activities of education which are referred to as reshaping and reviewing (Jurewicz, 2015).

Main Body/Argument + Transformational Practice 1600

The Scottish Government’s vision for the provision of mental health services in Scotland is outlined in the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027, which was released in March 2017 (Akinola & Dunkley, 2019). This includes making it easier to get treatment and improve prevention and early intervention. In June of 2018, a Taskforce on Children and Young People’s Mental Health was established to make recommendations for service enhancements. There is some evidence that the mental health of adolescents in Scotland has gotten worse in recent years. This is especially true for adolescent girls, who on a variety of measures report worse mental health than boys their age.

These trends may be influenced by a number of interconnected drivers, as highlighted in this review: online entertainment use, disturbed rest, self-perception concerns and school-related pressures. There is a lack of solid causal research and contradictory evidence regarding the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of young people. However, a number of studies suggest that excessive social media use has negative effects on the mental health of young people (Akinola & Dunkley, 2019). In Scotland, girls are more likely than boys to use social media. Sleep is essential to good health. Adolescents’ sleep may be disrupted at night by social media and mobile phone use (Young & Garett, 2018). In Scotland, a lot of young people, especially girls, are unhappy with how they look. Self-perception concerns are related with web-based entertainment use and poor mental prosperity results. More and more young people in Scotland, particularly teenage girls, say they are under pressure at school. Mental health can be harmed by this rising stress.

Over the past ten years, the number of people using online technologies has grown at a rate never before seen. The first generation to have grown up in a world so dominated by mobile technology are adolescents (Canady, 2022). Smartphone and social media use are a regular part of young people’s social lives. This represents a significant shift from previous generations.

Young girls reported to be indulged into more significant levels of online entertainment use than young men. Girls between the ages of 10 and 15 in the UK were twice as likely as boys to say that they spent more than three hours on social networking sites during a typical school day in 2012-2013. There is a lack of solid causal research and contradictory evidence regarding the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of young people (gov.scot, 2023). Social media has been shown to have some positive effects on mental health by encouraging social connection and self-expression, as well as by providing emotional support and access to expert advice (Wallén et al., 2021). On the other hand, negative social comparisons, cyberbullying, isolation, and other negative effects on well-being can come from social media. Despite the fact that most examinations archive pessimistic impacts of the pandemic on youngsters’ psychological wellness, there are exemptions. In the study by Janssens and colleagues, for instance, no changes in adolescent stress or daily irritability were found to be related to the pandemic. Enhancements in emotional well-being during the pandemic were likewise demonstrated by diminishes in uneasiness and assimilating side effects during the pandemic, contrasted with the pre-pandemic time. Internalizing and externalizing issues also decreased during the first few months of the pandemic in a clinical sample of adolescents with psychological problems (Thomas, 2021). Likewise, in the concentrate by Bouter and associates referenced above, most young people.

Transformational practices to improve the status of mental health within youth

Groundbreaking practices to work on the situation with psychological wellness issues among youth prepared to Act, a groundbreaking arrangement for kids and youngsters, their folks, carers and families who need support from AHPs, follows through on this and recognizes the critical obligation of AHPs in guaranteeing kids and youngsters have the most ideal beginning throughout everyday life. The objectives of the plan are intended to enhance the well-being of children and adolescents (Terry & Davies, 2016). We have committed to providing children’s and youths’ services through integrated joint boards that encourage practitioners from all fields and agencies to work together to produce results that are focused on the needs of children (Anderson, 2018). Much magnificent practice exists in AHP kids and youngsters’ administrations in Scotland. The aspirations will expand on this best practice to proceed with the improvement venture and guarantee all kids and youngsters in Scotland have equivalent access and chances to draw in with AHP mastery (Arubuola, 2023). A commitment to strategic collaboration across health, social care, education, and the third sector will be essential for the plan’s successful implementation, as will the involvement of children and young people, their parents, caregivers, and families as partners (Canady, 2018). The plan acknowledges their crucial role in achieving wellness goals. As part of integrated joint boards and in partnership with communities, AHPs are clearly guided by the necessity of productive and cooperative partnerships.

The high-level goals outlined in this transformational plan will have a significant impact on how services are provided and experienced. It is based on a fundamental shift in how AHPs who work with children and young people think about themselves as practitioners, their relationships with children and young people, parents, caregivers, families, and stakeholders, and how they design and deliver services now and in the past (Patterson, 2020). For AHPs who work with children and young people, implementing this transformative plan will require their commitment to cultural change.

The arrangement is based on the huge advances made in many administrations in the plan and conveyance of groundbreaking change. For instance, numerous regions have moved toward the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) model and are crucial partners in advancing the workstreams of the Early Years Collaborative. In Scotland, AHP services for children and adolescents already employ cutting-edge, high-quality practices; however, there are still disparities in decision-making regarding prioritization and capacity allocation, as well as levels of inequality in access to services. These goals are essential to the plan’s goals and the actions needed to bring about change (Sun & Zhan, 2021). The plan was developed through participation from AHP leads in the AHP Children and Young People’s Forum, youngsters, parents, caregivers, and families, all of whom contributed to the creation of the goals. A report based on the opinions of children and young people, as well as their parents, guardians, and families, was produced in 2014 following a consultation conducted by Children in Scotland6: This report’s recommendations and highlights are incorporated into the plan and directly related to each of the goals.

Policy on the topic

The GIRFEC policy or Getting It Right For Every Child is the country’s policy framework that seeks to promote the well-being of the youth and children of Scotland. This approach or policy supports a right-oriented perspective whilst integrating the provisions of UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) into daily practice. This national policy encourages positive results for young individuals and children as well as develops universal service delivery (Scottish Government, 2017). The national model of practice is a typical framework majorly for every working professional. In addition, this assists when responding and assessing to the requirements of young people and children and making sure every member of the family gets the appropriate assistance whenever they needed. This policy is based on four main principles which include an approach of joined-up, preventative, acknowledging well-being and child-oriented approach. In the joined-up technique, they work in a team to ensure what assistance a young individual needs. In preventative technique, they recognize early needs so the children do not experience any issues when they grow. In addition, in acknowledging well-being they consider the well-being of the children fully to give effective and appropriate assistance at the correct time. At last, in a child-oriented approach, they allow the participation of the youngsters and their families and consider them as key before making all decisions (Scottish Government, 2017).

Approaches/Transformation practice

Organizational approach-

HandsOn offers practical evidence and helps for supporting the emotional well-being and mental health of young individuals and children. Playfield Institute had established HandsOn and CAMHS is a part of it. It provides practical activities, tools and data to helpfully respond to the challenging behaviors of the young patient and allow them to flourish. Other than that, it aims also to assist in preventing troubling behavior issues and enhance mental well-being as well as promote a flourishing environment or community. It is designed majorly for carers, parents and everyone who deals with young people and children like school nurses, health workers, foster carers and social workers (Disability Scotland, 2022).

Global initiatives-

The GMHI (Global Mental Health Initiative) is referred to as the population's health in an environment that transcends beyond local concerns and opinions. The key objective of the GMHI (Global Mental Health Initiative) is to improve the care, prevention and recognition of the international mental disorder. Some of their key goals include raising education and awareness regarding the stigma of mental health in the population, developing opportunities for training in mental well-being for young students and creating family training and based models of collaborative care in psychiatry and mental well-being. The team of GMHI promotes diplomas for global mental health mainly for primary caregivers. They also offer online workshops of 2 hours for fellows of the program (UC San Diego, 2022).

Local community youth projects-

In Scotland, a wide range of local communities are there for the mental well-being of young individuals including SAMH, CAMHS and CMHT. The SAMH offers more than 70 services specifically in communities all over Scotland. They are doing their operation since 1923 (Aberdeenshire Council , 2023). They give mental well-being social care assistance, employment services and suicide prevention. CAMHS or NHS Scotland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are multi-disciplinary groups that provide interventions and assessments for young individuals with mental health problems in a setting of social, environmental and emotional factors (SAMH, 2018). At last, the Community Mental Health Team manages treats and assesses care requirements and gives assistance to individuals experiencing critical mental health issues. They help the Scottish in pursuing the greatest freedom within their community (Scottish Government, 2023).

Schools/universities-

The schools/universities of Scotland play a crucial role in the mental disorder of young individuals. The Young Work implements various training sessions in educational settings to promote mental health among young individuals. Other than that, they also allow or encourage the participation of the student's family members so that they can also understand the importance of mental well-being. In addition, they have also promoted a positive environment of learning to encourage mental health and overcome mental ill-health among young people and children. The educational settings also address the lifestyles and health issues of the children. The staff of student healthcare’s key goal is to also prevent learning barriers for specific children while also motivating the growth of the schools that promote well-being (Kostenius, Gabrielsson and Lindgren, 2019).

Practice instance from a domestic or international context

Education Scotland has created approaches and practices to aid, track and enhance the well-being and mental health of young people and children in pedagogy settings. NES (NHS Education Scotland) has developed a trauma-informed resources series for individuals who deal with young individuals. It supports workers to acknowledge the trauma impact and promote working practice changes. Educators are supported currently via a wide variety of provided materials by Education Scotland and the training program of SMHFA. This program of training offers knowledge to the attendees regarding mental health challenges along with the surrounding attitudes as well as the impact of drugs and alcohol on mental well-being and intervention of suicide (Scottish Government 2019).

Conclusion

This can be concluded from the above context that the most common issues that young individuals are currently facing are mental health disorders. In order to safeguard the well-being of the young people of Scotland GIRFEC (Getting It Right For Every Child) policy is there. This national policy of Scotland helps to improve the mental health of young Scottish and children. The key aim of this policy is to raise awareness and encourage pedagogy regarding mental health disorders among young people. HandsOn offers practical advice and assistance for promoting young individuals' emotional well-being and mental health. Some of the effective local community youth projects are, CAMHS, CMHT and SAMH. Transforming plan with a bold vision for services that will cater to children’s and young people’s needs. The way services are designed and delivered must be altered by leaders and practitioners in accordance with the plan. Pre- and post-registration education must reflect any shifts in practice culture. Going ahead, we will work cooperatively with advanced education suppliers to guarantee that training change is implanted in educational plan content and practice positions. In order to guarantee consistent and equitable service delivery, this will build on existing best practices, learn from the experiences of others, and collaborate as an AHP children’s and youth community. Even though the plan establishes a national course of action for AHP services in Scotland, it acknowledges the necessity of local implementation to satisfy local populations.

References

Aberdeenshire Council (2023). Community Mental Health Team. [online] www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/living-independently/mental-health-wellbeing-services/community-mental-health-team/#:~:text=Our%20Community%20Mental%20Health%20Team [Accessed 21 Apr. 2023].

Council of Europe (2014). Youth work. [online] youth partnership. Available at: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/youth-partnership/youth-work1.

Disability Scotland (2022). HandsOnScotland. [online] Disability Information Scotland. Available at: https://www.disabilityscot.org.uk/organisation/handsonscotland/ [Accessed 21 Apr. 2023].

Jurewicz, I. (2015). Mental health in young adults and adolescents – supporting general physicians to provide holistic care. Clinical Medicine, [online] 15(2), pp.151–154. doi:https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.15-2-151.

Kostenius, C., Gabrielsson, S. and Lindgren, E. (2019). Promoting Mental Health in School—Young People from Scotland and Sweden Sharing Their Perspectives. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00202-1.

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NYCI (2023). What is youth work? [online] National Youth Council of Ireland. Available at: https://www.youth.ie/articles/what-is-youth-work/.

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SAMH (2018). Information about SAMH | SAMH. [online] SAMH. Available at: https://www.samh.org.uk/about-us.

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Scottish Government (2019). Schools: Health and wellbeing in schools - gov.scot. [online] Gov.scot. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/schools/wellbeing-in-schools/.

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