Youth work can give young people support

BY SARAH PATERSON

Head of public affairs and communications, YouthLink Scotland – the national agency for youth work THE THEME of anti-bullying week this year is “All different, all equal”.

It is a statement of fact. We are all different and we are all equal despite our differences.

So are all young people treated equally?

Unfortunately, the lives of too many young people are still blighted by the destructive impact of bullying.

Statistics from respectme, Scotland’s anti-bullying service, found that 30 per cent of young people had been bullied during the school year.

Being a victim often leads to poor mental health. It affects attainment and the ability to form positive relationships, increases isolation and can destroy a young person’s happiness, as well as threaten their future opportunities.

We need to support our young people to help them develop the confidence to deal with bullying and take action.

We also need to increase awareness of the devastating impact it can have on the lives of others.

Youth workers have developed a number of ways to tackle bullying and the culture behind it.

Youth work creates a safe and inclusive environment for young people. They build positive relationships built on trust, giving young people a safe space to openly discuss bullying and the knock-on effect it has.

Most importantly, youth work can help to prevent poor mental health by encouraging self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.

It can help young people recognise and understand bullying as well as gain skills and confidence. Glasgow’s Youth Community Support Agency are just one of many youth work projects in Scotland working with young people to challenge bullying.

One of the people they support is Step K, a young hip hop artist from Slovakia who gives us a painful insight through his latest track Bully Song into the isolation he experienced growing up in Glasgow.

Through the support he has received from youth workers at YCSA, Step K has overcome his

The lives of too many are blighted by the destructive impact of bullying SARAH PATERSON

depression and feelings of isolation.

Bullying can have both long and short-term effects on physical and mental health and wellbeing.

With about one in three young people still suffering the trauma of bullying, it is essential the value of youth work is recognised so we can support the emotional, social and mental wellbeing of young people.

All young people need to be able to access the support that youth work offers and this is still not the case.

When it comes to youth mental health, failing to get it right will mean less equality of opportunity for this generation.