Agenda item

It is at this point in the meeting that members of the public who have registered their wish to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is by 5.00 pm on Tuesday 10 September

To register please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of this agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast, or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809.pdf

Ms Amber Graver, a Steering Group Member from ‘Our Minds, Our Future’ spoke to encourage local decision-makers to support the objectives of this campaign. 

Campaign http://makeourrightsreality.org.uk/our-minds-our-future/

In her speech Ms Graver:

·        Outlined what the campaign is.

·        Explained how this campaign links in with this Board’s objectives.

·        Made a request that the Board considers further action with regard to its commitment to #MyRightsMyMind Pledge.

The ‘Our Minds, Our Future campaign is totally youth-led and  recognises and aims to tackle the disparity between young people’s needs and access to mental health support by taking a rights based approach, using human rights to stand up for better mental health care.  The campaign demonstrates that failures within the mental health system do not only let young people down but breaches our human rights in the UK.

As a growing Campaign, it continues to highlight the need for age appropriate services, local provision, youth-participation in decision making and early identification and intervention and currently has a live Petition with almost 800 signatures.  Volunteers do this for free, visiting schools, meeting with young people directly to peer educate on human rights to increasingly build young people power and influence.

Ms Graver explained that the Campaign is national and depends on local advocates and decision-makers to make a difference.

Ms Graver explained how this campaign links in with this Board’s objectives for every resident of York to enjoy the best possible mental health and wellbeing throughout their life and explained that this directly links to our human right to health, which is the number one priority for the Our Minds Our Future Campaign and one of the top three priorities identified by the residents of York. She referred to this Board’s latest annual report, having a key priority to improve services for children and young people alongside ensuring that York is a mental health friendly environment and to get better at spotting the early signs of mental ill health and to intervene earlier. 

Ms Graver was grateful that the individual organisations within the  Board had either signed up to or were considering signing up to #MyRightsMyMind Pledge, which was building on the rights based approach York is already taking, but also specifically to respect the rights of young people in the UK to access better support for their mental health and promise to do all in your power to address the barriers to young people accessing our right to the highest attainable standard of mental health - a commitment ratified by the UK Government. 

Ms Graver considered that taking the pledge, was a great first action and wished to request that the Board consider further action, for example, could the Board release a statement expressing commitment to the rights-based approach; or agree to meet local young people to begin a more user-led process offering young people the chance to participate in decisions made around their future care needs.

Board Members expressed their wish to contact Ms Graver to discuss these point further. 

The Chair, on behalf of the Board, thanked Ms Graver for attending and speaking at this Board meeting and requested that her contact information be sent on to Members of the Board for individuals to follow up and that a link to this project be provided in these minutes.