Anna Williamson to give evidence on mental health to the Youth Select Committee

Today, Mind celebrity ambassador Anna Williamson 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 normal Select Committee, taking both written and oral evidence and producing a report which is sent to the government for a response. The enquiry into Mental Health was launched with a call for written evidence in March.

 Evidence sessions are open to the public and will be broadcast live.

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.

Anna Williamson said:

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to give evidence to the Youth Select Committee's inquiry into mental health. I know from my own experiences, and from the many people I’ve met through my role as Mind ambassador, that the stigma surrounding mental health prevents many people getting the help they need when they need it the most.

"This inquiry is a brilliant way to get these issues onto the political agenda and I look forward to hearing the Government's response to the Committee's recommendations."

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."