By Jesse, Digital and Communications Coordinator
Description: A conversation with Charlie Oatway on the inequalities of men’s health in secure settings.
Men’s Health Week takes place from the 9th-15th June to heighten awareness of men’s physical and mental health, aiming to give men and boys the access to information, services and treatment to maintain their health.
Peer Power Youth support young people aged 13-25, who have experience in health, youth justice and care services. The inequalities of men’s health in secure settings are evident. Without trusted relationships and the right care, young people don’t receive the correct support.
I sat down with Charlie Oatway, former footballer and a Mentor at Russell Martin Foundation (RMF), to discuss the inequalities of men’s health in secure settings. Peer Power Youth works in partnership with RMF to impact positive change in justice services.
“Access and experience of healthcare should be the same for everyone” – Young person
We firstly spoke about the treatment of physical and mental health in secure settings, and how health care is accessed. Charlie made it clear that he believes that the intention of delivering effective healthcare from Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) is there, however the delivery is poor. Young people don’t receive healthcare as quickly as they need it, as there is only a limited amount of funding and staff. Charlie continued stating that young people are not vocal about their healthcare needs due to a lack of trust of authorities.
“You’re brought up to not trust social workers, police, teachers, prison wardens. You’re told not to talk to them and it’s difficult to trust strangers” – Charlie Oatway
There is a large gap between physical and mental health, and young people are much more likely to report physical health needs due to peer pressure and stigma around mental health. Charlie believes that this gap could be closed by hiring staff who have lived experience to start conversations with young people. If young people in secure settings could be encouraged to talk, it would help to break down barriers for both young people and YOI staff.
When talking to Charlie, the main takeaway of what young people need is trusted, healthy relationships with professionals and healthcare providers. By creating trusted relationships with professionals with lived experience, young people can feel more comfortable by hearing stories that are similar to their own experiences.
“Healthcare providers could start groups with young people and get to know them as a person” – Charlie Oatway
Charlie expressed how something so simple as getting to know you as a person can help you open up and create meaningful relationships, further reducing young people’s anxieties and improving mental health.
“I wouldn’t tell the healthcare team if I had a problem, I’d just keep it to myself” – Young person
We ended our conversation by discussing what positive changes for the future would look like. Charlie suggested that young men need to get outside for education and physical activity, as they are not encouraged or engaged with enough. He continued that staff are too quick to “lock them up as it is easier for them”, with young people’s basic human rights not being met. It means that there is no support for young people leaving secure settings, as they haven’t received education or finance. Charlie emphasised the need for a pathway to help young people coming out of YOIs.
Moreover, we reflected on the work that the Youth Engagement Team at Peer Power Youth carry out in secure settings, with every young person that the organisation spoke to finding the engagement positive, because they knew the team were trying to make a difference.
“When you lot come in, it feels like we can breathe for a bit. You treat us like people, not just prisoners” – Young Person
About Peer Power Youth
Peer Power Youth is a national charity supporting young people aged 13-25, who have dealt with childhood trauma. They have been affected by abuse, exclusion or violence impacting their communities, and have experience in health, youth justice and care services.
The young people that we work with have described themselves as being ‘abandoned by society’. Despite their circumstances, we see their power and potential. We do vital work to support these young people in their journey and improve the youth justice and care services they were once in for the benefit of other young peers. That’s why we focus on both individual change and system change.
Our Individual change work – We offer young people support in training, education, professional experience and promote positive wellbeing.
Our System change work – We work with young people to create real change for others in health, justice and social services.
Keep up with the latest on empathy, co-production and youth-led system change.
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