Young peoples health report

Young People’s Health Report

Young people’s experiences of mental health, being LGBT+ accessing services and rural isolation

In 2019 Off the Record was commissioned in partnership with Healthwatch Bath and North East Somerset to complete a piece of research into the experiences of young people, mental health, LGBT+, and rural isolation. The research has been led by OTR and in collaboration with 5 young people from the Your Voice group. This report provides an overview of the key findings of the experiences of young people, young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and questioning people (LGBTQ) aged 16-25-year-olds in Bath and North East Somerset.

 OTR completed this report in 2019, and we’re releasing our findings in a very different world. We’ve added a section to the report to acknowledge the significance of the pandemic for young people. But we believe all of what young people have shared with us here is still relevant, and in many cases is compounded by the pandemic.

Vanessa Scott, Projects Portfolio Manager, Healthwatch BANES

“We are absolutely delighted to have been able to fund this piece of work with OTR BANES. Hearing what young people have to say and using what they have told us to help shape service provision in B&NES that truly supports their needs is absolutely vital.”

Phil Walters, OTR Director

“We know that there is much work to do to provide better support and agency for young people from all areas of Bath and North East Somerset so that we can ensure that ALL young people have the opportunity to lead healthy lives. We believe it is important that young people feel listened to and heard and we continue to develop services in response to their needs.”