Young People’s Mental Health Debate

On 28 November at Blackpool Sixth Form College, a debate took place regarding the effect of social media on young people’s mental health. The debate focused around the effect it had and if interactions on social media were positive for young people or if they adversely affected mental health. The debate was hosted by The Royal College of Psychiatrists (Northwest Division) in partnership with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Sixth Form College and both NHS Blackpool CCG and Blackpool Council.  The panels included young people along with two teams of psychiatrists and mental health professionals with an audience of students and staff from local schools (year 10 and year 11) and from Blackpool Sixth Form. After a vote, 60% of people felt that social media was bad for mental health.