Event Overview
On Thursday 8th February 2024, two young people from Greater Manchester led an event with research teams from Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester Metropolitan University, Made by Mortals, 42nd Street, Mindset Revolution and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), to plan better ways to engage young people in mental health research through innovative participatory methods supporting young people to have a voice.
The theme for Children's Mental Health Week 2024 was 'My Voice Matters’ and our goal for this event was to explore this theme to inform better ways to engage young people and their families in Greater Manchester, showcasing innovative and engaging participatory methods for mental health research.
We recognise the underrepresentation of certain youth groups in mental health research and services, these events aim to lay the groundwork for future research design.
By collaborating with young minds who will co-lead the events, we aspire to build a foundation for inclusive, culturally sensitive research.
The ultimate goal is to inform enhancements in access and experiences within mental health services across Greater Manchester. By involving young people in the planning process, we aimed to create an environment that nurtures working partnerships, ensuring engagement events are not only informative but also resonate with the needs of Greater Manchester's diverse communities.
Keep an eye on ARC-GM socials, X.com and Linkedin for updates about these events.
Young Person Involvement
Members from the ARC-GM Young People's Advisory Group (YPAG) play a vital role in ensuring young, public voices are at the heart of our research.
To ensure this young persons' mental health event was relevant, relatable and reached out to young people, it was important for our ARC-GM YPAG members to have a significant contribution to its planning and delivery.
YPAG members, Beatrice and Ash, not only contributed to the event's planning but also took on the roles of hosts and facilitators on the evening, find out more about their experiences and 'tops tips' for delivering an event in the video below:
