What I Learned from Being a Member of the Futur Council U24: Insights and Reflections.

 

Hello, my dear readers! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Today, I have a very special and exciting topic to share with you: my experience as a member of the Future Council U24!

You may have heard of the Future Council U24 before, but if not, let me give you a brief introduction. The Future Council U24 is the first representative council for young people in Switzerland whose participants are selected by a wide pool. It is an innovative and inclusive platform for promoting active democratic participation among the 16-24 age group. The council debates a national future topic chosen by youngsters and presents their recommendations to politicians and the public.

I was one of the lucky 80 participants who were gradually selected to be part of the Future Council U24 in 2023. I was thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to make my voice heard and to contribute to the future of our country. The topic that we chose to discuss was “Mental health for young people”. This topic was very relevant and important to me, as I care deeply about the well-being of myself and others, especially in these challenging times.

The Future Council U24 took place over three weekends starting from September to November 2023. We had a diverse and dynamic group of young people from different backgrounds, regions, languages, and opinions. We learned about the topic from experts, stakeholders, and peers. We exchanged our views and experiences in small groups and plenary sessions. We brainstormed ideas and solutions for improving the mental health situation of young people in Switzerland. We drafted and voted on our recommendations and presented them to the public in a final event.

It was an amazing and enriching experience for me. I learned so much from being part of the Future Council U24. Here are some of the key insights and reflections that I gained from this process:

• Mental health is a complex and multifaceted issue that affects everyone differently. There is no one-size-fits-all solution or approach for addressing it. We need to respect and support the diversity of needs, preferences, and experiences of young people when it comes to their mental health.

• Mental health is influenced by many factors, such as personal, social, environmental, economic, political, and cultural factors. We need to consider these factors when we think about how to prevent, treat, and promote mental health among young people. We also need to address the root causes of mental health problems, such as stress, discrimination, violence, poverty, isolation, stigma, etc.

• Mental health is a human right that should be accessible, affordable, and available for all young people in Switzerland. We need to ensure that there are enough resources, services, and professionals that can provide quality mental health care for young people who need it. We also need to reduce the barriers and challenges that prevent young people from seeking or receiving mental health care, such as cost, distance, waiting time, language, culture, etc.

• Mental health is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration and coordination among different actors and sectors. We need to involve young people themselves in the design, implementation, and evaluation of mental health policies and programs that affect them. We also need to foster partnerships and dialogue among different stakeholders, such as government agencies.

• Thank you for reading this article and for supporting me and my content. I appreciate it so much. Until next time, stay safe, healthy, and happy! 😊