YAG Spotlight: Talking about the importance of our voices at Edinburgh University

Emma:

The sun was shining on the Wolfson Youth Advisory Group as Sami, Lily and I arrived in Edinburgh to attend the Edinburgh University Youth Mental Health Forum networking event. As a Scottish person, the appearance of the strange big yellow thing in the sky during summer can be unsettling, but we embraced it nonetheless.

A quick taxi ride took us to the conference centre at the base of Arthur’s Seat, next to Pollock Halls of Residence (where I lived as a student a long, long time ago!).  Following a lovely warm welcome from the organisers (‘Are you a hugger?’ we were asked as we entered… turns out all three of us are!), we settled in for an afternoon of learning and networking.

The Forum is in its very early stages and the event – co-designed and co-led by young people – aimed to understand and consolidate how and why to involve young people in mental health research.

Our Wolfson YAG will be three years old in September and as such, we were thrilled to be invited not only to attend, but to deliver a talk outlining our own learnings over the past few years. I reflected on my own journey as PI Lead here at the Centre and encouraged the moderators to be:

• both flexible and reflexive
• protective of the group, remembering our duty of care
• willing to take time out from research to celebrate the group’s skills and achievements

As with any event when young people are co-leading discussions, it was an inspiring and enjoyable day and we were delighted to be part of it . We wish the Forum the best of luck and look forward to watching how it develops over the coming months!

Lily:

I’d never been to Scotland before, so I was super excited to attend this event, not only to share my personal reflections on mental health youth forums shaping research, but to explore the beautiful city of Edinburgh!  Before the event, I spent a day playing tourist, visiting St Giles Cathedral, Scott’s Monument, Ross Fountain, and Vernell Viewpoint. During lunch, I had a Zoom meeting with Emma and Sami at a Starbucks with a stunning view of Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens. On my way to the hotel, I wandered through Grassmarket, enjoying the independent shops and historic architecture while listening to the sound of Scotsmen playing bagpipes.

I’ve been a member of the Wolfson YAG for almost three years, and during this time, our group has evolved and grown as we’ve discovered what works well and what changes we want to make. With our valuable experience in mind, Sami and I shared how we, as young people, can be involved in mental health research and the importance of our voices influencing the direction and impact of research.

I felt a little nervous initially, as I’d never spoken at an event like this before. However, the supportive atmosphere and enthusiasm of the young people and researchers made me feel empowered and truly heard. I wanted to emphasise the importance of acknowledging the valuable time, expertise, and efforts of young people who contribute to mental health research. This is crucial to ensuring that they do not feel like mere ‘tick-boxes’ in the research process.

I also highlighted the significance of using effective communication and language that is respectful and understandable, so discussions are inclusive and accessible for everyone to contribute to. Above all, Sami and I stressed the necessity of creating a safe, comfortable environment that fosters mutual appreciation and respect between young people and researchers.

I left the event feeling really proud of Sami and myself for representing the Wolfson YAG. I think we offered some useful tips and suggestions. Before leaving Edinburgh, we took a final walk and reflected on the many discussions and talks we had throughout the day. We spoke about how interesting it was to listen to the perspective of researchers who also have to consider the logistical aspects of forming a youth mental health forum.

Bringing together young people and professionals at this event provided diverse insights, and our conversations could have continued for hours. I would love to see a similar event held at the Wolfson Centre, focusing on the successful collaboration between young people and professionals in youth mental health research.

Thanks to Emma and Lily for sharing their Scottish adventure.

Learn more about our Public involvement work at the Wolfson Centre and our Youth Advisory Group.

Lily’s camera roll: