We have established a Youth Wellbeing Network, a global network of policymakers, practitioners, researchers and youth supporting a holistic approach to young people’s psychosocial wellbeing.

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Ruth Evans shared findings from her research in Senegal with policymakers, practitioners and members of the public at a public event ‘A Holistic Approach to Young People’s Psychosocial Wellbeing’, co-hosted by the University of Reading and Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London on 22 November 2016. The public event was followed by a workshop “Putting the ‘Social’ back into Young people’s Psychosocial Wellbeing, Care and Support” for policymakers and practitioners. The events were a collaboration between Ruth Evans, Fiona Samuels, ODI and Morten Skovdal, University of Copenhagen, funded by the University of Reading.

Despite increased awareness of young people’s mental health needs, interventions that target their psychosocial wellbeing remain largely medicalised. In reality, young people’s wellbeing is often tied to that of their family, relationships with their peers and resource constraints within communities. By recognising and engaging the complex social dynamics that surround young people, the psychosocial approach to wellbeing can have significant positive impacts on their social lives, educational outcomes and future potential.

The events explored different approaches to young people’s psychosocial wellbeing in the Global South, and shares good practice in advancing support for young people, families and communities. The workshop was timed to coincide with Children’s Grief Awareness Week UK, raising awareness of bereaved children and young people and providing an opportunity to explore learning from the Global North and South.

Speakers included:

• Richard Boden, Policy Advisor, Disability Team, UK Department for International Development
• Dr. Fiona Samuels, Research Fellow, ODI
• Dr. Ruth Evans, Associate Professor, University of Reading
• Lynette Mudekunye, Acting Chief Executive Officer, REPSSI
• Alison Penny, Co-ordinator, UK Childhood Bereavement Network

To watch the video of event, please click here.

For Ruth’s slides, please click here.

See also Workshop programme

Presentation slides are available to download below:

Pressures, ‘troubles’ and changes in young people’s everyday lives

• Fiona Samuels, ODI: ‘If we lose our friends, we’re done’: mental health and psychosocial wellbeing amongst children and young people in Viet Nam
• Ruth Evans, University of Reading: Young People’s Experiences of a Family Death: Bereavement and Care in Urban Senegal
• Gina Crivello and Patricia Espinoza, Young Lives, University of Oxford: Tracing Young People’s Wellbeing, Care and Support in Contexts of Orphanhood in Ethiopia

Policy and practice responses that work with the ‘social’ in young people’s psychosocial wellbeing

• Lynette Mudekunye, Acting Chief Executive Officer, REPSSI: Enabling School (Psychosocial) Environments promote Social Connections for Young People
• Karin Tengnäs, Child Protection Advisor, Save the Children Denmark: Stronger together – Children’s and Youth Resilience Programmes
• Alison Penny, Coordinator, Childhood Bereavement Network: Children facing Bereavement in the Global North: the Social Context

Workshop report and network to follow!