No More Tightropes: End Tokenism, Fund Continuity

Youth participation in mental health policymaking is often symbolic. Processes like Mindset Revolution invite young people to lead and share their experiences but can't guarantee a structure for long-term dialogue, follow-up, or institutional change. Researchers and activists collect stories and ploicy recomendations, public managers promise implementation, but when pressure from above kicks in, the system defaults to tokenism. Each actor deflects responsibility downward, leaving young people in precarity — again.

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In the play, Zainab balances on the rope representing every youth who’s asked to “have a voice” without power. They reach out urgently to the policymaker, a woman in a hat, asking her to act. But the policymaker hesitates, avoids eye contact, citing silos, priorities, or timing. The researcher keeps moving forward on the rope, pushing gently but insistently, offering evidence, highlighting risk. The policymaker doesn't deny the need — she simply doesn’t move. Behind her, a senior public manager (Lee) tries to translate all of this into operational steps, but blocks it with “capacity issues.” At the end of the line, the executive holds the scissors — a threat dressed as a budgetary justification. This chain doesn’t collapse — but it doesn’t hold either. The rope shakes. The system sways. Someone must step off and build the net.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Department for Health and Social Care (UK) HM Treasury (funding conditions for participatory projects) Local Authorities and Participation Units Universities with research funding linked to civic engagement

Participatory Continuity Council (formal, funded structure at GMCA level) with power to: - Track the chain of responsibility in all participatory processes related to mental health - Require mid-term implementation reporting from policy units - Host co-accountability hearings twice a year involving youth, researchers, and institutional reps Mandatory inclusion of follow-up protocols in all publicly funded participatory projects involving vulnerable or high-risk populations (including care funding and training) Ring-fenced budget for care infrastructure and youth facilitation in participatory policymaking