Column: Help is out there if you're worried about a young person's mental health

Recent data has shown that there are alarming trends across various demographics, particularly among children and young people.

Mental health referrals reached a record five million in 2023, a 33 per cent increase from 2019.

What’s interesting to me though, although not shocking, is that the pandemic occurred during this time frame, and, whatever your views on the pandemic, you most certainly cannot argue about the impact this had on people’s mental wellbeing.

But despite the increase, services remain underfunded and understaffed leading to long waiting times and many unmet needs.

You may know that I facilitate a bereavement support group for those who have been bereaved by suicide, and I am saddened to say that most people that attend our group have a story to tell of the poor care, support and desperation their loved one had when trying to access services.

I alone can evidence the numbers. It is suggested that current figures estimate that over one million people are on a mental health waiting list and with the shortages of in-patient mental health beds this only exacerbates the issue.

The pandemic intensified mental health challenges for our youth with probable mental disorders among children aged seven to 16 years, from one in eight in 2017 to more than one in six in 2022, for those aged 17-19, rates

increased from one in 10 to one in four and despite the growing awareness and reduced stigma, only one third of young people needing treatment were able to access it last year.

There are some great online resources out there, so if you are worried about a young person then I urge you to take a look.

Mind has a really useful list of organisations and services that can offer support for those aged 11 to 18 years, along with many other resources.

If you only do one thing today, take a look at this list.