Why is Mental Health important in young people?

1:6 - WOW!!

What a figure!! That's 1 out of 6 young people in 2020 had a mental health problem ..

That is compared to 1 in 10 in 2017.

Over half of all mental health conditions start before the age 14 years old.

When I was younger (many moons ago) mental health wasn't a huge thing, or at least it was as talk

ed about as it is now. I remember that child in my school who seemed to be just a "quiet" child. I wonder what he is doing now and how his life has turned out. I don't remember him getting an support. I hope he is OK. Statistics say that there are more children now experiencing a mental health condition than there were 30 years ago. Whilst I believe these statistics, I also think it is more publicised now and more people are getting help for their young person.

Having taught a lot of courses in anxiety management at my local Mind Wellbeing Centre, most people have said that they have had a mental health condition since a child.

Now it is more publicised that mental health is just as important as physical health. Good mental health helps young people to develop resilience to cope with what ever life throws at them and promotes them to grow into healthy, happy adults.

More than half of children who experience a mental health condition are not getting the support they need. And this is where intervention needs to happen. Its not only adults that can offer support, peer support is also important.

Some things that can help a young persons state of mental health include -

• Eating a balanced diet

• Regular exercise

• Having the time and freedom to play or see friends

• Having a supportive family that they feel they can talk to

• Getting enough sleep

• Limiting the amount of time allowed on electrical devices