Lib Dems Call for New Youth Summit to Tackle Body Image and Mental Health Pressures

At yesterday's Council Meeting (Wednesday 9th July 2025), Merton Liberal Democrats put forward a proposal to establish a new youth summit to tackle body image and mental health pressures. 

An estimated 7,000 8–19-year-olds in Merton are living with a mental health condition. Local young people themselves have identified mental health as their top priority in the borough’s 2025–2030 Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Despite this, the motion was rejected by Labour councillors, who referenced existing support services as sufficient. 

Cllr MacArthur argued young people often won't go and seek support themselves when they are struggling, instead it needs to be proactive, with clear pathways and early intervention. The proposed summit would have brought together school leaders, mental health professionals, youth representatives, and body image experts to explore how relentless social media pressures and unrealistic beauty standards are affecting children and teenagers in Merton. 

Merton Council previously backed a 2022 Liberal Democrat amendment calling for urgent action to reduce self-harm in young people. This new proposal built on that commitment, aiming to make mental wellbeing a cornerstone of Merton’s future.

“Young people are being bombarded every day with filtered images and toxic beauty ideals that leave them feeling ashamed of their bodies,” said Cllr Samantha MacArthur, who proposed the motion for the Lib Dems. “This summit is about creating a programme of work that gives young people the tools to thrive – not just online, but in real life.”

A report by Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee found that two-thirds of teenagers feel negative or very negative about their body image. Studies have linked body dissatisfaction to anxiety, depression, disordered eating and self-harm.

The Lib Dem motion proposed the development of a youth-led programme to promote body confidence, build resilience, and support schools to challenge damaging norms.

The motion, if approved, called on the council cabinet to:

• Host a borough-wide Youth Mental Health & Body Image Summit
• Develop a co-designed programme of work shaped by young people
• Equip school staff with the tools to support positive self-image
• Explore long-term funding and partnership opportunities

“This isn’t about telling young people to put their phones down, it’s about equipping them to navigate the digital world with confidence and critical thinking. We want them to be positively influenced by the right role models” added Cllr MacArthur. 

“It’s deeply disappointing that Labour councillors have chosen to shut down a constructive, youth-led approach to one of the most urgent issues facing our children. The message this sends to young people is that their voices and lived experiences are not being taken seriously."

"We had an opportunity to come together and take real action to support mental health and body confidence. We believe this summit could have created lasting change, with young people involved at every stage.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The Liberal Democrat motion was debated at Merton’s Full Council meeting (Time:1.26.10) on Wednesday 9th July 2025. The motion can be found here.
• The summit’s working title, +Influenced, symbolises a positive counter to the negative influence of unrealistic standards on social media.
• The motion supports key priorities in the Merton Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2025–2030, including reducing hospital admissions for mental health conditions in young people. The Strategy can be found here.
• The report from the Women and Equalities Committee can be found here.