National Mental Health Debate for Young People

There are two separate debates; one for primary schools, and a debate for secondary schools. The two debates will be broadcast at different times. The guidance is the same for both primary and secondary schools.

• Each invited school will nominate two student spokespeople to represent them at the debate.
• Each two-person team will argue ‘for’ and ‘against’ the motion on behalf of their school, with contributions 'for the motion' and 'against the motion' lasting two minutes each as a maximum.
• Each contribution is pre-recorded, and submissions can be received in English or Welsh.

During the event itself, submissions will be broadcast and there will also be contributions from prominent figures.

Schools will have the opportunity to interact through registering votes on whether pupils agree or disagree with the motion both before and after the broadcast of the submissions.

The event will be chaired by Delyth Jewell MS, and this will also involve a short panel discussion. Submissions will have been judged remotely by a panel of judges, and there will be an announcement of winning entries at the end of the event.

The event will run 'live' on Friday 9th December (primary schools in the morning, secondary schools in the afternoon), the recording will also be made available to schools to watch back, and this will be made available on the day of the event,

If you would like to register your school to participate, please complete the electronic form from the blue box opposite in the first instance, we'll then come back to you with details of how to submit a video recording and all the relevant deadlines.

We ask that schools register interest early to avoid disappointment.

We'll be keen to hear the views directly from young people on the motion 'can you people prevent climate change?'. Here are a few questions that may help generate discussion.

• Do young people feel empowered to take action? 
• Will politicians listen to young people when making decisions?
• Will small actions lead to big changes?
• Should young people feel optimistic about the future?

We'll be sending out a short guide of how best to submit the recordings, this will be shared once schools register their interest. Please be assured that it's straightforward.

We also have permission to share a couple of examples from recordings that were shared for our most recent debate for secondary school pupils. These can be shared on request, please contact Antonia Fabian.