Efua Poku-Amanfo is the new Head of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. She brings a breadth of experience having worked across both health and education policy at the Institute for Public Policy Research. There she led the public health work which led to the successful Healthy Places, Prosperous Lives report published in 2023 which outlined public health interventions to improve place-based health inequalities. She has since been leading the Institute’s work on children and young people, working across school exclusions, youth unemployment and special educational needs and disabilities provision. She previously worked at the European Parliament and for young people’s mental health charity, Youth Access.
Efua Poku-Amanfo said:
”I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to lead the coalition at such a critical time for children’s mental health and wellbeing. This feels like a return to my roots, having started my career at Youth Access 8 years ago. I hope to bring my breadth of experience across policy, research, communications and campaigns to strengthen and build on the fantastic work the coalition has established over the years. I am looking forward to meeting coalition partners, strengthening relationships and working towards our unifying goal; to improve the mental health outcomes, quality of life, fulfilment and joy that every single child deserves’.’
Kadra Abdinasir, Associate Director of Policy at Centre for Mental Health and host of the Coalition, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Efua as the new Head of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition. At a time when children and young people’s mental health has never been more urgent, Efua brings a rare combination of policy depth, strategic leadership and a strong commitment to equity. Her experience across health, education and public policy will be invaluable in strengthening the Coalition, bringing our members together, and driving the systemic change needed to improve outcomes for babies, children and young people.”
