Ageism in 'A Vision for Change'

This article is a review post by one of our writers. It does not reflect the opinions of Yuppa or the overall work of the organisations mentioned!

For those who don't know, A Vision for change is a mental health oversight committee for the national policy being made by the department of health.  I recently took part in their review workshop where they reviewed the policy that they put in place almost 4 years ago. And over the course of the workshop the chair of the oversight group "Mr X" (for privacy reasons, Yuppa censored his name!), was faced with some very tough questions brought to him by concerned parents, teachers and other members of the public, about the representation of lower class citizens and youth in Ireland. To which he dodged completely.

I myself asked Mr. X, did the oversight group plan on consulting young people as they made the review of their policy, to which he answered, "We cannot waste precious time, we have data we collected 4 years ago, that should do fine" and not only was I infuriated by his answer but other members of the workshop outraged by this answer and I feel that it was incredibly unjust.

To move from that fact I went on to ask him later that day would the oversight group consider a consultation if Wexford Comhairle na nÓg facilitated it, and he replied with "You were invited here to ask me professional questions so please keep them professional and adult"

The review of the A Vision For Change is to make that change in the Mental Health Policy in Ireland and my fear is that the Young people won't be as represented as they should be in this new policy with the outdated material that they are continuing to use, and I feel that this is unjust and am now urging all you who read this article to write letters or emails to Katherine Zappone Minister for Child and Youth Affairs and to Simon Harris Minister for Health until we get the representation that we are entitled to and to have our voices heard.

-Matty Colgan, lead writer