Due to the lack of government funding to the NHS professional mental health help is not always available straight away. Investment in community youth services, such as youth clubs and groups, have also fallen across the country. Despite this the needs of young people have increased (3). When these sources of help are not available Youth MHFAiders can provide first response support by assessing for any crises, helping the young person to feel valued and listened to, and providing information about how they might be feeling. Young people are subject to mental health inequalities Young people from different backgrounds with different lived experiences can have different mental health outcomes. The factors associated with different health outcomes are called social determinants of health. Studies show a clear link between poorer health outcomes and social disadvantages. Young people are subject to social disadvantages in similar ways to the rest of the population. However, there are also unique issues young people face (11). Furthermore, there are more specific social determinants that affect smaller proportions of the general population of young people. It’s vital that we understand specific factors that influence the mental health of young people in order to support them. Young people may lack the knowledge to realise that they need help or that help is available Some forms of poor mental health affect clear thinking and good decision making. Like people of any age a young person experiencing such challenges may not realise that they need help or that effective help is available. They may also be in such a state of distress that they are unable to think clearly about what they should do. In this situation Youth MHFAiders can spot signs of declining mental health and facilitate appropriate support.
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