That’s TV Cumbria approached the Healthwatch Cumberland team in August to find out our perspective on the government’s plans to place restrictions on vape shops in an attempt to limit young people’s access to vape use. Engagement Manager for Cumbria and Lancashire, Chloe Wallace, provided our stance on the challenges young people face and what support is needed.
In July, the UK Government revealed plans to reduce the accessibility and appeal of vapes for young people. This includes measures to keep vapes out of sight in shops, and making vapes less appealing by having plain packaging and avoiding having flavours that attract children and young people: UK Government crackdown on vapes targeting kids.
“The evidence is clear: there are too many young people experimenting with vapes, attracted by the array of flavours, bright colours and marketing displays.”
“We want a healthier future for the next generation, so we must act now to reduce the appeal of addictive vapes to our children.”
“Vapes are less harmful than cigarettes and can play an important role in helping adult smokers to quit, but they should never be designed or marketed in ways that tempt children.”
- Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray.
The Healthwatch Cumberland team understand that young people are currently facing more and more pressures, from Climate Change, to the Cost of Living Crisis, and the harmful effects of social media and more social isolation.
In the interview, Chloe discussed how young people can start vaping for various reasons, including as a coping mechanism during challenging times:
“There is an element of it meeting a need for certain people and I think with others it’s more about peer pressure and following a crowd.”
The Healthwatch Cumberland team have been speaking to young people recently as part of our Youth Mental Health project, R.I.S.E, to find out what young people are facing and to support them to feel more confident and hopeful about the future.
Chloe stated the importance of looking at providing more support and healthy coping mechanisms for young people:
“I think we can redirect the energy and redirect young people towards healthy coping mechanisms.”
Young people need someone and somewhere to go to when they feel stressed or worried. This includes having trusted adults to speak to, who may be outside of their family or school communities. From the workshops we have done with young people at local youth groups, the importance of these places of safety and fun is clear. In a recent interview with youth group worker Emma Lyons, we discussed the importance of her work at Carlisle Youth Zone:
“I think when young people don’t have enough support, they can grow into adults who might struggle to manage their mental health and who have a lack of boundaries. When young people come to the Youth Zone, we can support them to regulate and understand their emotions and accept that it’s okay to feel a certain way. We help young people learn accountability and how their emotions can affect their behaviour.”
- Emma Lyons, Employability Team Leader at People First and Youth Worker at Carlisle Youth Zone
Support available to young people
If you are a young person who is experiencing anxiety, low mood or a lack of confidence, there are organisations who can support you.
- Your Voice, Carlisle Eden Mind: Provide support to make sure your voice feels heard, and help you to feel more empowered to stand up for yourself.
- Every Life Matters: Offer support and resources for those experiencing thoughts of suicide.
- Cumberland Family Hubs resources page: Provides resources and information for young people looking for emotional wellbeing support.
- Young Woman Up: A project created by local empowerment charity Woman Up. Email: [email protected] for more information.
- PiNC Youth: Peer support for young people who are part of the LGBTQ+ Community.
If you would like to share your experience of youth mental health as a young person living in Cumberland, or as a parent or carer of a young person, you can get in touch with the Healthwatch Cumberland team via email to: [email protected]