Youth
Here in the UK, one in six children aged 5 - 16 are likely to experience a mental health problem. This figure has gone up by 50% over the past three years with the waiting times for youth mental health services continuing to increase.
Although awareness is improving, young people still don't understand mental health that well. As a result, young people tend to talk down the mental health problems they might have. If they do decide to reach out for support, they are worried that they will experience stigma or discrimination.
Poor mental health has a significant impact on young people and can pose challenges to their families. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty, lack of availability of professional mental health support – all have been named by various sources as contributing to this epidemic of poor mental health in our young people. It’s clear that young people are not getting the support they need. Key figures in a young person’s life – parents, family members, teachers, tutors, carers, youth workers – can often spot when a young person is struggling but may not know how best to help.
2 in 3
young people have experienced stigma or discrimination.
50%
of mental health problems are established by the age of 14.
466,250
is the number of young people waiting to be seen by the mental health services.
Why should you learn First Aid for Youth Mental Health?
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Learn how to spot the early warning signs of a mental health condition
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Develop the confidence to provide an early intervention
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Help build connections with young people
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Enhanced interpersonal skills such as non-judgemental listening
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Preserve a life where a young person could be an immediate danger to themselves or others around them
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Ability to support a young person with a long-term mental health issue to excel
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Gain the tools to look after your own mental wellbeing