A task group has been set up by the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee which is aiming to create policy guidelines or a tool kit, for schools across Cardiff, around Mental Health & Wellbeing.

Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) member Fahadi Mukulu is representing the voice of young people on the task group and has been the linchpin between the task group and CYC’s own priority subgroup on Mental Health & Wellbeing.

Fahadi has said that

“The task group have met with many different organisations and programme leaders and are coming to the beginning stages of drafting the policy/toolkit.

There needs to be a whole environment and culture change within schools. There are many different organisations providing support around mental health & wellbeing but there is no consistency among the schools regarding the organisations they use or the type of support they provide.

One of the questions to be asked is, how we can better unify the support available?

One of the ways could be through governance. A higher authority could ensure all schools and/or organisations are working to the same goals and aims. These goals and aims could be decided by both adults and young people and young people should also help scrutinise how well they are delivering against those aims and goals.”

Fahadi goes on to say:

“In terms of a culture change in school we need to find out how to:

Established leadership with C&YP meaningfully involved

Build a restorative approach in promoting wellbeing and challenging behaviour

Early prevention is key – not just intervention

A unified way of measuring mental health & wellbeing in young people that all schools follow

Explore the best way to support young people dealing with adverse childhood experiences

Ensuring that we reach hard to reach young people….such as those out of school or those in the criminal system”

After speaking with CYC one of Fahadi’s biggest concerns is that the task group spend their time creating the tool kit/policy and it gets ignored by schools.

CYC believe schools need to be more accountable regarding the pupil’s emotional mental health and wellbeing, perhaps with an annual review done by young people.

Grŵp Gorchwyl Iechyd Meddwl Pwyllgor Craffu Plant a phobl ifanc

Mae grŵp gorchwyl wedi’i sefydlu gan Bwyllgor Craffu Plant a Phobl Ifanc gyda golwg ar lunio canllawiau polisi neu arweinlyfr ar gyfer ysgolion ledled Caerdydd. Testun yr arweinlyfr hwn fydd Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant.

Fahadi Mukulu, aelod o Gyngor Ieuenctid Caerdydd (CIC) sy’n cynrychioli llais pobl ifanc ar y grŵp gorchwyl ac mae ef wedi bod yn gweithredu fel echelbin rhwng y grŵp gorchwyl ac is-grŵp blaenoriaeth CIC ei hun ar Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant.

Dywedodd Fahadi

“Mae’r grŵp gorchwyl wedi cyfarfod â llawer o sefydliadau ac arweinwyr rhaglenni gwahanol ac ar fin dechrau ar y gwaith o ddrafftio’r polisi / arweinlyfr.

Mae angen i amgylchedd a diwylliant newid yn gyfan gwbl mewn ysgolion. Mae llawer o wahanol sefydliadau yn cynnig cymorth sy’n ymwneud ag iechyd meddwl a llesiant ond does dim cysondeb rhwng yr ysgolion o ran y sefydliadau y maen nhw’n eu defnyddio neu’r mathau o gymorth a gynigir.

Un o’r cwestiynau i’w gofyn yw, sut y gallwn ddod â’r cymorth sydd ar gael at ei gilydd yn well?

Gallai un o’r ffyrdd hynny fod trwy lywodraethu. Gallai awdurdod uwch sicrhau bod yr holl ysgolion a/neu sefydliadau yn gweithio tuag at gyflawni’r un nodau ac amcanion. Gallai’r nodau ac amcanion gael eu penderfynu gan oedolion a phobl ifanc a dylai pobl ifanc hefyd helpu i graffu ar ba mor dda y maen nhw’n llwyddo i gyflawni’r nodau a’r amcanion hynny.”

Aiff Fahadi ymlaen i ddweud:

“O ran newid diwylliant ysgolion mae’n rhaid i ni ddysgu sut i:

Sefydlu arweinyddiaeth gyda Phlant a Phobl Ifanc yn cyfrannu’n ystyrlon

Adeiladu dull adferol o hyrwyddo llesiant ac ymddygiad heriol

Mae atal yn gynnar yn allweddol – nid dim ond ymyrryd

Sefydlu dull unedig o fesur iechyd meddwl a llesiant ymhlith pobl ifanc a ddilynir gan bob ysgol

Ystyried y ffordd orau o helpu pobl ifanc i ddelio â phrofiadau niweidiol yn ystod eu plentyndod

Sicrhau ein bod yn cysylltu â’r bobl ifanc sy’n anodd cyrraedd atynt …. y rheiny nad ydynt yn yr ysgol neu’r rheiny

yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol.”

Ar ôl siarad â CIC un o bryderon mwyaf Fahadi yw y bydd y grŵp gorchwyl yn treulio eu hamser yn llunio’r arweinlyfr / polisi dim ac y bydd yn cael ei anwybyddu gan ysgolion.

Mae CIC o’r farn y dylai ysgolion fod yn fwy atebol mewn cysylltiad ag iechyd meddwl a llesiant disgyblion, o bosib gydag adolygiad blynyddol a gyflawnir gan bobl ifanc.