Survey reveals mental health barriers
Anew survey released by children’s mental health charity Place2Be has found that more than half of young people face barriers when looking for mental health support. The survey, published during Children’s Mental Health Week, took data from 1,045 young people aged from eight to 16 years old. They were asked about their experiences around mental health, seeking support, expressing themselves and feeling heard by adults.
The survey revealed that 55% of young people said something would stop them from getting mental health support. Barriers include feeling uncomfortable speaking to someone they don’t know, wanting to keep their struggles a secret, and worrying about how their friends and family would react. Some children said they found it embarrassing to talk about their mental health, or they struggled to explain how they were feeling to someone else.
The survey also found that the most common worry among children and young people is around schoolwork and exams. Others said they were also worried about the way they look, climate change and their families not having enough money. One said it can feel like teachers care more about homework deadlines than how pupils are feeling, even when they’re stressed and worried. Another said they want mental health to be talked about more regularly in school, so that people feel more comfortable bringing up how they feel. The head of Place2Be, Catherine Roche, said it was “powerful” to hear from young people about what they need to support their wellbeing. Pia and Lucy, who are wellbeing ambassadors at their school, visited The Week Junior with some other students as part of an event with Place2Be for Children’s Mental Health Week. They told The Week Junior that although exams are stressful, they are “not reflective of who you are”. Pia also said it’s important to take action about mental health. She said, “Hope increases when you take action.”
You can read more about their visit on page
16, and also in Pia and Lucy’s editors’ letter on page 28.