Three in five young people have experienced mental health problem

New data revealed by the mental health charity Mind has shown that 59 per cent of young people have either experienced a mental health problem themselves, or are close to someone who has.

The survey shows that one in seven young people say their mental health is currently poor or very poor and outlines the breadth of the challenges they face. It also shows that, when it comes to accessing support within school, there were problems with knowing where to go, and then getting the right kind of help.

Mind’s survey also found that 38 per cent of all pupils said they wouldn’t know where to go to access support within school and 52 per cent said they wouldn’t feel confident approaching teachers or other school staff if they needed help. Additionally, 21 per cent had accessed support for their mental health within school. Of these, 43 per cent said they didn’t find the support helpful and 63 per cent said they weren’t involved in decisions made about that support.

Louise Clarkson, head of Children and Young People at Mind, said: “It’s time for a fresh approach to supporting young people and equipping them to look after their mental health. With so many young people affected, and knowing that most mental health problems start in childhood, this is rapidly becoming one of the major challenges our society faces. We need to listen to what young people are telling us and be guided by them when designing services and support.”

Emma Thomas, chief executive at YoungMinds, said: “These worrying figures show the scale of the mental health crisis in our classrooms. While we have seen some welcome initiatives from the government in the last two years, there is far more to do. The next Prime Minister must ensure that young people can get support when they need it - in their schools, in their communities or through the NHS – long before they reach crisis point.”