UMHAN to give evidence on mental health to the Youth Select Committee

On Friday 26 June Dan Doran, Committee Member from the University Mental Health Advisers Network (UMHAN) will appear before the Youth Select Committee to  contribute oral evidence for its inquiry into mental health. 

Made up of young people from around the UK, the Committee functions in the same  way as a standard Select Committee, taking both written and oral evidence and  producing a report which is sent to the government for a response. The inquiry into  Mental Health was launched with a call for written evidence in March.

UMHAN were particularly keen to contribute on this subject, due to its long term work  with young people experiencing mental health problems. UMHAN are a network of  mental health specialists working in the Higher Education sector. With over 170  members, all are dedicated to and have a practical role in providing support to students experiencing mental health difficulties. UMHAN have also produced guidance and position statements on mental health in Higher Education, including guidance for mental health promotion, provision and inclusivity. 

Evidence sessions are open to the public and will be broadcast live on 
www.Parliamentlive.tv.

The Youth Select Committee is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons. The eleven committee members are aged 13-18 and include two Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs), two youth councillors, a Young Mayor, one elected representative from each of the devolved nations and three reserved seats.

Dan Doran, said: “This is a great opportunity to work with the Youth Select Committee 
on these important issues. Members of UMHAN provide practical support to those 
experiencing mental health difficulties in Higher Education settings and so our members see the importance of this inquiry on a daily basis.”

Rhys Hart, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said: 
"With over 140 pieces of submitted evidence from young patients to paediatricians and politicians, we now have a real variety of detailed and valuable evidence, and we are extremely thankful to all those who submitted. Our first oral evidence on Friday 26th June will give us the opportunity to hear from a wide range of people from up and down the country. Mental health is a sensitive but significantly important issue to young people with over 90,500 voting for it in the 'Make your Mark' campaign last year. I am eager to begin the oral evidence stages and I'm looking forward to what the panellists have to say."