1 in 3 teens suffering mental ill health
ONE in three Scots teenagers has mental health problems fuelled by social media and a lack of sleep, according to a report on the wellbeing of school pupils.
It comes amid fears the Covid crisis will cause even deeper psychological problems for the nation’s young people.
A survey of more than 21,000 Scottish high school students found that 62 per cent had ‘normal’ scores for emotional and behavioural issues.
But 18 per cent were ‘borderline’ and 20 per cent ‘abnormal’, meaning they suffer from problems with their mental health.
The findings of the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government and published yesterday, were taken from questionnaires. Pupils aged 13 to 15 were asked about subjects including their friendships, how often they felt worried or tearful, and how well they felt they could concentrate.
They were also asked about bullying, feeling lonely and whether they tried to be kind to other people.
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: ‘When social media and the online world starts to negatively affect our mood, it’s important to know how to take care of ourselves. That’s why we published advice about this for young people.’
A spokesman for the Mental Health Foundation Scotland said: ‘The spend on children and young people’s mental health services remains a fraction of the overall spend on mental health and, in comparison, to physical health.
‘This research reinforces the importance of both early intervention and prevention for young people. We urge the Scottish Government to prioritise mental health, in particular when our young people return to education this August.’
Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘This is an extremely high level of ill health among our young people and it is deeply shocking.
‘The SNP has let child and adolescent mental health waiting times get to the longest ever level. SNP ministers cannot let the Covid-19 public health emergency turn into a mental health crisis.’