Making sense of mental health

Findings

• Overall, Children and Young People (CYP) were confident on how to look after their physical health, but much less assured on how to look after their mental health.
• Two of the top five mental health concerns amongst CYP were school related (exam stress and school pressure). The others were stress, not being listened to, and trouble sleeping.
• Female CYP experienced much higher levels of anxiety than males, at 42% and 22% respectively.
• Overall, females were more likely to experience an indicator of poor mental health than males.
• Female CYPs were twice more likely to have experienced self-harm than males.
• Stress was a top concern amongst all age groups and genders.
• One in four CYP believed they had experienced depression, and 31% with anxiety.
• The highest rates of depression were felt by 12 year olds, at just over one third.
• The highest rates of anxiety were felt by 15 year olds, at two in five.
• When experiencing an indicator of poor mental health, CYP were most likely to speak to a family member or a friend.
• Of those who stated they had experienced poor mental health, one in five CYP would do nothing, or block it out.