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.
Current data show that mental health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent among young people. It is estimated that 75% of mental illnesses start before a person’s 18th birthday. Adolescence and early adulthood are times of significant change and development, making early intervention essential so young people have the tools they need to maintain their mental health during these years, as they can be susceptible to issues like bullying.
Common myths surrounding young people’s mental health
mental health issues are rare in young people
Mental health challenges are common among young people. In Scotland, a University of Glasgow study reported almost half of young people experienced multiple health issues. It’s important to acknowledge and address them.
it’s just attention-seeking 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. Normalise conversations about mental health and it can lead to 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. In fact, high achievers often face immense pressure and stress. It’s important to recognise that anyone, regardless of their performance in school, might need support with their mental health.
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 LGBTQ+. According to some sources, these issues can include:
Anxiety: Anxiety is feeling excessively worried or fearful about everyday situations.
Depression: Depression is persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and lack of interest in activities once enjoyed.
Stress: Stress can make you feel overwhelmed by pressures from school, relationships or other responsibilities.
Eating disorders: Eating disorders encompass various unhealthy eating habits and concerns about body image.
What are some possible signs that a young person is going through a mental health issue?
Understanding when a young person might be experiencing mental health challenges is crucial. While everyone’s experience is unique, there are some signs that may indicate they could benefit from support:
Changes in mood: Noticeable shifts in mood, such as persistent sadness, irritability, or anger, can be a sign of underlying mental health issues.
Withdrawal: If they’re increasingly avoiding friends, family and activities you usually enjoy may be indicative of loneliness or other mental health issues.
Changes in sleep or appetite: Sleeping or eating more or less than usual can be indicative of an underlying mental health condition.
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 may not necessarily mean that someone is going through a mental health issue.
How can we support young people’s mental health?
Our mental health, like our physical health, exists on a spectrum. We are not always at the thriving or excelling end of this spectrum and can sometimes find ourselves toward the struggling or unsettled end.
Taking care of our mental health is crucial for staying at that thriving end of the spectrum, and a big factor in maintaining positive mental health is resilience. Resilience is a skill we can all develop, and showing resilience looks different for each one of us. It is important to remember that there is no perfect way to look after our mental health and different things work for different people.
Below are some tips for taking care of our mental health and building resilience. These can be used to look after our wellbeing in the short term, but may also have a long-term impact on maintaining positive mental health:
Develop your inner coach
One of the best ways to build resilience is talking 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 – tell yourself things like I’ll be okay’, ‘These are just thoughts, I don’t have to believe them’ and ‘Do what I can do from where I am now’.
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 and offer new perspectives. If there is no one you feel comfortable talking to right now, anonymous places such as Childline can offer support over message, email or phone.
Do things that you enjoy
This could be a sport or hobby, 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.
Look after your physical health
Our mental health and physical health are connected, so eating well, sleeping well and generally maintaining cleanliness are so important for maintaining our wellbeing. Things like this can seem hard to manage if you are struggling, so you may need to take small steps, such as washing your face and eating something small. Even getting out of bed on a day you are feeling down shows resilience.
Celebrate the small wins
Over time each small step we take to improve something needs to be celebrated, as these small improvements build confidence and self-belief and are key to developing our resilience. With each small step we also learn things about ourselves and grow our capabilities.
Connect with nature
Spending time outdoors can really improve our mood and reduce stress. Science has shown that nature has a calming effect and can help us feel more grounded and connected
Change Mental Health and young people
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. Young People’s Programmes include:
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.
Me & Money
Our new programme 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 2-session programme aims to empower, equip and provide young people with resilience-building skills when it comes to money
support
Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.
If you need further information about Young People’s Programmes or want to enquire about online training, resources or how we can help your school or college, contact the team.
Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.
