Youth mental health focus

Young people from the Stirling area can now apply to become a Youth Commissioner.

Up to 20 young Scots (aged 14-22) will be recruited to work with the Scottish Government on developing recommendations to shape mental health services in Scotland.

The Commission will take place during the Year of Young People 2018 and the deadline for applications is February 9.

The young people will help develop recommendations on how child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) should be provided for young people and what mental health services can and should look like in the future. Their findings and ideas will be shared with the Scottish Government to shape future mental health service delivery, policy and strategy. The Commission will be supported by Young Scot and Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), to run the 15-month project.

Maureen Watt, Minister for Mental Health, said: “Prevention and early intervention is a key part of how we approach mental health in Scotland and I want to encourage any young person with views or experience on this to seriously consider applying for the commission. We want to improve services and, vitally, strip away any stigma. I think the work done by the Youth Commission in Mental Health will be one of the most important legacies of the Year of Young People in 2018.”

Potential applicants should visit young.scot/ get-involved for more.