Are you a young person who wants to engage in research in mental health and neurodiversity? Or do you have experience of mental health challenges or SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) services? Your experiences and opinions are powerful, and they can help shape the future of support for young people like you. By sharing your thoughts through our survey, you’ll play a vital role in improving services and ensuring they meet the needs of those who rely on them most.
Why Your Voice Matters
Mental health challenges among young people are rising across the UK. Greater awareness of neurodiversity, such as ADHD and Autism, is driving the demand for assessments and support. However, healthcare services are struggling to meet the demand, leading to long waiting times and insufficient resources for many children and young people.
Your input will help us:
- Identify what works and what doesn’t in mental health and SEND services.
- Highlight specific areas where services need to improve.
- Develop recommendations and resources for better support.
About This Survey
We’ll use the results to inform local health services, create new tools and resources, and recommend improvements to the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and organisations like Healthwatch.
Your responses may help inspire further research or service evaluations. If you share detailed experiences or challenges, we will review them carefully to guide improvements while ensuring safeguarding measures are in place if needed.
Definitions
Mental health is about how we think, feel, and cope with life. It’s a big part of being healthy, just like looking after your body. Some people might have challenges with their mental health, like feeling very sad, anxious, or overwhelmed, while others feel more steady most of the time. It’s normal for everyone to have ups and downs, and looking after our mental health is important for everyone, no matter how we feel.
Neurodiversity means that everyone’s brain works differently, and that’s totally okay! Some people, called neurodivergent, might think or learn in ways that aren’t as common—like people with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia. Others, called neurotypical, think and learn in ways that are more usual. Neurodiversity is about accepting and valuing all these differences because they make us unique and help the world in lots of ways.
This survey will take approximately 5–15 minutes to complete.