Latest news with #NathanLey
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children's mental health 'worse in deprived areas'
Children living in poorer areas of Oxfordshire are significantly more likely to suffer from mental health problems, a new report has found. Oxfordshire County Council's director of public health presented an overview of the mental health and wellbeing of local children and young people to councillors on Tuesday. Ansaf Azhar told the BBC his report showed mental health issues were becoming a barrier to some children reaching their full potential. At the meeting, councillors voted to "take every opportunity to support actions and initiatives" raised by the report. Speaking in the chamber, Nathan Ley, cabinet member for public health, inequalities and community safety, said: "If we want a fairer and healthier and more prosperous county we have to act now to support our young people and their mental health, not just for their sake but the future of our workforce and our communities." The report found "striking" inequalities when it came to children's mental health and wellbeing, using some data from the 2023 OxWell School Survey. About a quarter of children aged eight to 16 with mental health problems had a parent unable to afford out-of-school activities, it said. "More deprived areas" such as Greater Leys had approximately six-and-a-half times the rate of self-harm as north central Oxford. It said rising costs of living, where the cost of housing is high relative to incomes, played a role. It also highlighted how "harmful content", "harassment" and "cyberbullying" on social media had "severe detrimental effects", linked with depression and anxiety. Other findings included: Proportion of children receiving support in school for a special educational need steadily rising, with growth outpacing national trend About 11% of children referred to secondary mental health services, one of the highest rates in the south east of England Autism significantly higher compared to national average Oxfordshire ranking in the lowest 25% nationally for educational attainment for disadvantaged children in early years development, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, and Key Stage 4 Mr Azhar said young people needed to feel more "empowered". "Our schools and our early years teams are doing a fantastic job," he added. "What we need to do is to build on that and expand further, and make it clear that there are plenty of interventions available... and if we do that we can give them a better opportunity to manage their own conditions." Dr Emma Soneson, who worked on the original survey, told the BBC: "When people think about Oxfordshire they think of this magnificent university town and forget about a lot of the inequalities." She added: "Tackling inequalities is really one of the foremost things that we should be doing, and which the report sets out a really clear action plan for." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Council launches teen mental health app Oxfordshire County Council
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Children's mental health 'worse in deprived Oxfordshire areas'
Children living in poorer areas of Oxfordshire are significantly more likely to suffer from mental health problems, a new report has County Council's director of public health presented an overview of the mental health and wellbeing of local children and young people to councillors on Azhar told the BBC his report showed mental health issues were becoming a barrier to some children reaching their full the meeting, councillors voted to "take every opportunity to support actions and initiatives" raised by the report. Speaking in the chamber, Nathan Ley, cabinet member for public health, inequalities and community safety, said: "If we want a fairer and healthier and more prosperous county we have to act now to support our young people and their mental health, not just for their sake but the future of our workforce and our communities." The report found "striking" inequalities when it came to children's mental health and wellbeing, using some data from the 2023 OxWell School a quarter of children aged eight to 16 with mental health problems had a parent unable to afford out-of-school activities, it said."More deprived areas" such as Greater Leys had approximately six-and-a-half times the rate of self-harm as north central said rising costs of living, where the cost of housing is high relative to incomes, played a role. It also highlighted how "harmful content", "harassment" and "cyberbullying" on social media had "severe detrimental effects", linked with depression and anxiety. Other findings included:Proportion of children receiving support in school for a special educational need steadily rising, with growth outpacing national trendAbout 11% of children referred to secondary mental health services, one of the highest rates in the south east of EnglandAutism significantly higher compared to national averageOxfordshire ranking in the lowest 25% nationally for educational attainment for disadvantaged children in early years development, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, and Key Stage 4 Mr Azhar said young people needed to feel more "empowered"."Our schools and our early years teams are doing a fantastic job," he added."What we need to do is to build on that and expand further, and make it clear that there are plenty of interventions available... and if we do that we can give them a better opportunity to manage their own conditions." Dr Emma Soneson, who worked on the original survey, told the BBC: "When people think about Oxfordshire they think of this magnificent university town and forget about a lot of the inequalities."She added: "Tackling inequalities is really one of the foremost things that we should be doing, and which the report sets out a really clear action plan for." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
06-02-2025
- BBC News
Oxfordshire: More than 9,000 illegal cigarettes seized by council
More than 9,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized as part of a national initiative to tackle their County Council's Trading Standards carried out raids at off-licences, convenience stores, food retailers and barbers in Banbury, Kidlington and tobacco detection dogs - which were used to sniff out contraband in concealments within till points or hidden in storerooms - assisted the the cigarettes, teams also seized counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco, nicotine pouches and vapes. The raids, carried out last month, were part of Operation CeCe - a national initiative to tackle the sale and supply of illegal tobacco products. Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council's public health chief, said its officers would "continue to crack down" on the sale of illegal products and "cause the maximum disruption possible to criminal networks"."People can help us to stamp out illegal tobacco and create a healthier and safer county by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity using the illegal tobacco hotline," he total, tobacco products with a street value of more than £5,000 were seized during the included 9,340 illegal cigarettes, 700g of counterfeit hand-rolling tobacco, 180 packs of non-compliant nicotine pouches and 42 disposable vapes, with a capacity of nicotine containing liquid nine times the maximum Kerman, the council's head of Trading Standards, said: "We are serious about taking action whenever we find anyone selling illegal tobacco.""Its sale undermines legitimate businesses in Oxfordshire and puts money into the hands of criminals," she added. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
