young people and mental health
Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. For young people, maintaining positive mental health is crucial because it influences how to handle stress, relate to others and make choices for the future.
Did you know that as many as 1 in 4 young people in Scotland live with mental health challenges?
Adolescence and early adulthood are times of significant change, growth and development. While facing uncertainty and emotional ups and downs is a normal part of growing up, these years can bring unique challenges and pressures. From exploring gender and sexual identity, coping with academic pressure, social media and life transitions, experiencing bullying or struggling with body image, these experiences can have a significant impact on a young person’s mental health.
With 59% of mental illnesses beginning before a person’s 18th birthday, early intervention and prevention for mental health is crucial so young people have the tools they need to maintain their mental health during these years and into adulthood.
Common myths about young people’s mental health
being moody is just part of being a teenager, they’ll grow out of it
Mood swings are common during adolescence, but intense mood changes or persistent low mood may be a sign of a mental health issue and shouldn’t be dismissed as “just being a teenager”.
it’s just attention-seeking and manipulative behaviour
When young people are experiencing mental health issues, they could be trying to tell us that they need help. It’s not a ploy for attention, rather an opportunity for early intervention and support to reduce stigma.
young people who perform well at school don’t struggle with mental health
Academic success does not shield young people from mental health challenges. Anyone, regardless of their grades, can experience mental health issues. In fact, high achievers often face immense pressure and stress.
what are common mental health issues faced by young people?
Young people can face various mental health issues and it can impact specific groups more heavily, such as those who live in rural areas or those who identify as LGBTQIA+.
The most common mental health challenges young people face are:
Anxiety
Anxiety is feeling excessively worried or fearful about everyday situations. 32% of 13–15-year-olds report experiencing anxiety.
Depression
Depression is persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and lack of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed. Almost half of young people aged 14 have experienced a period of depression.
Exam stress
Stress can make you feel overwhelmed by pressures from school, relationships or other responsibilities. Approximately 1 in 4 young people feel pressure because of schoolwork and exams.
Self-harm
Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, stress or difficult situations. Studies show that approximately 1 in 8 young people have engaged in self-harming behaviours within the last year.
Trauma
Some people might experience traumatic situations during childhood, such as abuse, neglect or living in a stressful home. They can affect how you feel and grow, but with support, you can heal and feel better.
Body image
Negative body image means not feeling good about the way your body looks. When these feelings become intense, they can sometimes lead to unhealthy behaviors around food and exercise and may even contribute to eating disorders or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
Gender identity
Gender identity is how someone feels and understands their own gender, which might be the same or different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Substance use
Adolescence is often a time of experimentation, including with alcohol and other substances. While for some, this may be limited to one-off experiences, for others it can lead to patterns of use with long-term consequences.
What are signs a young person is facing a mental health issue?
Understanding when a young person might be experiencing mental health challenges is crucial. While each individual’s experience is unique, there are some signs that they may need support:
- Changes in mood: Noticeable shifts in mood, such as persistent sadness, irritability or anger or indifference, can be a sign of a mental health issue.
- Withdrawal: If they’re increasingly avoiding friends, family and activities they usually enjoy or are quieter than usual, it may be indicative of loneliness or other mental health issues.
- Changes in sleep or appetite: Sleeping or eating more or less than usual can also be a sign they need support with their mental health.
- Physical symptoms: Frequent complaints of physical issues, like headaches or stomach aches without a clear cause, may also be related to mental health.
It’s important to note that these signs do not automatically mean that a young person is facing a mental health issue. However, if they persist or start to affect daily life, it may be a sign that additional support is needed.
Young People’s Programmes
Change Mental Health‘s commitment to young people’s mental health is demonstrated by our Young People’s Programmes. Our approach to mental health education for young people is centred around listening to their opinions and involving them in the course development process. Our Young People’s Programmes include:
Me & Money
Me & Money is our newest programme, which addresses rising money anxiety in young people amid the cost-of-living crisis. It explores the interconnection between money and mental health. Co-produced with young people, the four-session programme aims to empower, equip and provide young people with resilience-building skills when it comes to money.
“After completing the workshop, I’ve talked to my mum a lot more about money. We talked about what help or advice I can get from her that will help me… She was very helpful.”
Reflections from a participant of a Me & Money workshop. Read more about Me & Money in our insight piece here.
Bloom
An early intervention, mental health education programme delivered in schools and colleges. Centred around providing young people with resilience skills, Bloom equips 14–18-year-olds with the tools and knowledge to support their mental health, supporting them to successfully navigate life’s transitions. Bloom also provides training for teachers, enabling them to have conversations with young people about their mental health and giving them the skills and resources to deliver.
Your Resilience
Your Resilience delivers support in non-educational settings. We work closely with youth organisations to deliver a series of workshops suited to young people’s needs. We train facilitators in our content and co-deliver our targeted mental health workshops to groups of 14–18-year-olds, equipping them with resilience skills to help them manage their mental health both now and in the future.
Your Resilience for Parents and Carers
Your Resilience has recently been adapted, in partnership with CAMHS Tayside, to support parents and carers of young people aged 13–18. Across four workshops, the programme helps families build their understanding of resilience and develop the knowledge and confidence to support their child’s mental health. Read more here.
How can we support young people’s mental health?
If a young person approaches you about their mental health and you’re not sure of ways to suggest helping them, you might find the list of tips below useful. These tips, while aimed at young people, can also support anyone at any age who may be experiencing a challenge to their mental health.
1. Develop your inner coach
One of the best ways to build resilience is learning to talk to ourselves kindly and choosing whether to listen to our inner critic. This takes practice, but a good place to start is with rational self-talk. For example, try to tell yourself things like ‘I’ll be okay’, ‘these are just thoughts, I don’t have to believe them’ and ‘this is hard but I can do it’.
2. Connect with others
Sharing our feelings with friends, family or a trusted adult can be incredibly helpful in making us feel less alone. Talking about problems can provide relief, comfort and offer new perspectives. If preferred, anonymous support can be received through helplines, such as Childline, who can offer support through messages, email or phone.
3. Do things that you enjoy
This could be a sport, hobby or other activity. Engaging in regular physical activity can boost your mood and energy levels. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Finding any activity that is right for you can help improve your mood and make you feel more relaxed.
4. Look after your physical health
Our mental health and physical health are connected, so eating well, sleeping well and maintaining personal hygiene can make a big difference. Things like these can seem hard to manage if you are struggling. You may need to take small steps, such as brushing your teeth and eating something small. Even getting out of bed on a day you are feeling down shows resilience.
5. Celebrate the small wins
Over time, each small step we take to look after ourselves should be celebrated, as these small improvements build confidence, self-belief and resilience. Celebrating could look like sharing the achievement with friends or treating yourself with something you enjoy.
6. Connect with nature
Spending time outdoors can really improve our mood and reduce stress. In fact, science has shown that nature has a calming effect and can help us feel more grounded and connected.
support
Our National Advice and Support Service can help you and people you care for with mental health concerns and money worries.
We can link and signpost you to relevant local and national support, including our own Change Mental Health services, as well supporting with debt, grants and benefits.
The service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm to 1.30pm). Contact 0808 8010 515, email advice@changemh.org or fill in the form on the service webpage.
For full details about the service, visit the National Advice and Support Service webpage.
other support
Childline: 24-hour phone helpline, email service and online one-to-one webchat for children and young people in the UK. Contact Childline by using the 1-2-1 chat or by calling 0800 1111.
Shout: A free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs support. If you are struggling to cope and need to talk, text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258.
HOPELINEUK 24/7: Helpline for children and young people who are experiencing thoughts and feelings of suicide. It provides advisors who are trained to help you stay safe from suicide. You can get advice and support by phone, text and email. Call 0800 068 4141, text hope to 88247 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
CALM: Suicide prevention helpline for anyone affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts. It’s open from 5pm-12am (midnight) on 0800 58 58 58. You can also webchat with them via their website or via WhatsApp.
