A Croydon Council board is shifting its focus to concentrate on the health and well-being of children and young people, it announced this week. The council’s Health and Wellbeing Board meets four times a year and is made up of private, voluntary and community organisations. Stephen Meah-Sims from the Leaders Office said the mental health of young people was identified by the board as an important issue to focus on. But Michael Bell, chairman of Croydon Health Services, asked if the board had been ‘talking to themselves’, adding: “We think this is good and this is the right direction but we would like the opportunity to comment further.” Members of the Health and Wellbeing Board asked whether younger children would also be consulted in the process. Norbury and Pollards Hill ward councillor Maggie Mansell said: “Mental health issues and success in life depends not just on what happens in secondary school but in early life and before birth.” She added that plans needed to be long term and include promoting ‘life skills’ and introducing more youth groups for young people.
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