"At my school someone provides support a couple of days a week, which is a good start but it’s not enough”

I’m feeling hopeful after Labour’s general election victory. I think the party has a good way of connecting with young people and they have made promises that could really benefit our mental health and wellbeing.

For example, it’s exciting that the voting age could be lowered. I'm currently 15 and being able to vote will make me feel like I’ve got more of say. It feels democratic too. At 16, you can get married and join the army which are big responsibilities, and you can vote in Scottish local and parliamentary elections. So why not in UK general elections?

Labour also has mental health and education policies that I agree with but want to see go further. Their commitment to provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school is great, but it’s not clear whether this will be part- or full-time. At my school there’s someone who provides support a couple of days a week, which is a good start but it’s not enough. This gap means students sometimes wait more than forty-eight hours for help, and a lot can happen in that time.

I genuinely hope the new Labour government will champion a comprehensive approach to mental health and wellbeing across all schools and colleges. This should involve building a supportive and positive culture. A big part of this is acknowledging the different needs of all students. In my experience, even small changes can make a big difference. For instance, my younger sister, who is autistic and has struggled at school, benefits from some straightforward adjustments. She's allowed to leave classes five minutes early to avoid busy corridors, and she carries a card that she can show her teacher if she’s feeling overwhelmed, which allows her to step out and decompress.

Creating safe spaces where people can openly discuss their experiences is also important. Labour’s plan to establish a nationwide network of youth hubs is a promising step towards this. I’ve struggled with mental health issues, so I understand the value of having accessible, local support. I’m involved with a mentorship program at my school called Boys to Men, which helps other students to navigate various challenges such as legal troubles and domestic issues as well as combating toxic masculinity. These problems can sometimes escalate to violence if not properly addressed. Our group aims to break down stereotypes about men showing emotions, reinforcing that it's okay for boys to cry and feel upset. The group not only helps individual students but also creates a more supportive and positive environment throughout our school community.

Find out more about Anna Freud

Anna Freud is a mental health charity and we’ve been supporting children and young people for over 70 years. We listen to and learn from their diverse voices, and integrate this with learnings from our science and practice to develop and deliver mental health care.

Like James, we want the new government to help the education sector adapt a whole-school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing. In our Thinking Differently manifesto, we’re calling for a number of changes including improved access to preventative mental health programmes in schools for children and young people with mild-to-moderate needs.

We believe children and young people’s voices need to be at the heart of policymaking, and we want the Labour Party to commit to engaging directly with young people every step of the way. Read our reaction to their win in full here.