Listen to young people

Alison Mitchell reports on the Quaker Mental Health Forum

Listening… space… believing in each other…

The second Quaker Mental Health Forum was held on 3 November in the Priory Rooms in Birmingham. We hoped to offer those things we wish for everyone. As Friends shared, we opened ourselves to hear their ministry. A young woman described ‘the best day of my life!’ when Friends had believed in her. In one workshop, a participant became distressed. The leader reframed her situation, validating her experience while another Friend held her. Such simple support, enabling the Friend to recover and rejoin the workshop.

This Mental Health Forum focused on mental health and young people. Turn on the news and the topic is there – a crisis. This day looked beyond the headlines. Framed in worship and rooted in faith, the day offered opportunities to reflect and explore.

We were led by three Friends sharing, from personal experience, of bipolar disorder, of caring for a daughter who died of anorexia, and of working professionally to support the wellbeing of young people. The sharing – described as ‘inspirational’, ‘generous’ and ‘humbling’ – rooted us in both the reality of mental health problems and the spirituality of all experiences. The gathering was responsive: ‘There is a collective pain… in the room.’

We moved into topic-based workshops looking at: social media, the effects of cannabis, using the environment, self-care and developing therapeutic skills across a school environment. There was space to respond – worship sharing, singing, writing, craft, walking a labyrinth and discussion. We came together for worship sharing and reflection.

One participant summed up: ‘The depth of sharing made it worthwhile coming here.’ Another reported: ‘It was a safe place – it made me dig deep.’

A theme grew of the importance of listening: ‘I feel empowered to listen ever more deeply, to trust the power of the Spirit in interactions’; ‘I will listen more, to be quieter in myself’; ‘I hope to listen with ears of tolerance and see with eyes of compassion and to simply “be”, rather than being concerned about how I should be reacting.’

We heard each other, supported each other, believed in one another. We reflected on the central necessity of connection: ‘All I need is one person to believe in me’; ‘I am not my mental illness – I am intrinsically me’. The day offered space and we reflected on the value of respite from pressure and scrutiny.

We all need support and belief; we all need to be heard; we all need space – and yet this is not available to so many young people. There was deep reflection and prayer, alongside a growing anger at the pressures and neglect offered by much of the society in which we live. A minute was prepared by the Mental Health Forum, to be taken back to Meetings. We share it with Friends and ask you to reflect and to take action:

Are we as Quakers aware of the pressures on mental health in our modern world? How can we work to meet the needs which arise, particularly in developing ways to respond to the lack of provision for young people? We must listen to young people and encourage approaches which promote good mental health. We urge all Friends to get involved.

Alison is mental health development officer at The Retreat York Benevolent Fund.

Further information: www.retreatyorkbfund.com

---

Comments

Please login to add a comment