Mental health in adolescents is a silent killer. Since 2010, suicide rates among young people has risen 67% in England and Wales. NHS figures published last month say that nearly 400,000 people under the age of 18 are in contact with the health service for mental health problems. With an increasing number of young people and children battling mental health conditions every day, it comes as a huge shock to know that the funding for mental health services is being cut, leaving more vulnerable people at risk than ever before.
There are many reasons why mental illness is rising among young people. Some factors include increased pressure from parents, increased performance pressures (school, work or leisure activities, etc.), an increased pressure from social media or even sexual orientation confusion. The modern generation’s youths are under constant pressure: to be popular, to be the best, to be beautiful, to be perfect. Society places unachievable and extremely unrealistic goals on impressionable youths, who in turn suffer as they believe they are failures.
Of course, these are not the only factors as to why mental health issues are on the rise, nor do they apply to everyone, however they do provide an adequate explanation to the question.
Mental health in adolescents is a serious problem and is one that needs addressing urgently. Funding to mental health services must be increased to aid young people and start the road to recovery for the thousands of children who suffer in silence every day.
