THREE children in every classroom will experience a mental health problem by the time they’re 16. That’s the message coming from the Scottish Association for Mental Health as they launch a new campaign which has young people at its heart.
The official launch came ahead of the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from the 8th to the 14th of May.
Figures show that last year in Scotland, nearly 7,000 young people didn’t get the help they need for mental health problems.
The campaign aims to shed light on the importance of early intervention services for children and young people in Scotland.
The ‘Going To Be’ campaign also aims to raise awareness of the sheer scale and urgency of the problem. In its opening weeks, ‘Going To Be’ will draw attention to the 19 young people who are being turned away from getting help every day.
Recent research conducted by the Scottish Youth Parliament revealed that when it comes to finding help for your mental health, only a quarter of young people know where to go.
Billy Watson, Chief Executive of SAMH said:
“Half of mental health problems in adulthood begin before the age of 14, so investment in solutions for children and young people now and broader mental health education is crucial.
“We know the devastating impact that mental ill-health can have on our relationships, our work or education, our wellbeing, our hope and our quality of life.
“A mental health problem shouldn’t just be defined by a diagnosis but it is often only then that an intervention is triggered. It’s got to change.
“Improving the self-esteem, resilience and well-being of our young people must be a priority as the situation is urgent, it’s not getting better and SAMH wants to see it change.”
“We hope everyone in Scotland will get behind our new campaign ‘Going to be’ and join the movement to give Scotland’s young people every chance to get the help they need, when they need it.”
Caitlin-Jay Wyllie-Quinn, a 20 year old student said:
“I first started to experience mental health problems around first year of high school.
“I didn’t receive the professional help I really needed, it was all off my own back to try and make myself feel better.
“If I had received help earlier, and whilst I was in school I don’t think my mental health would have suffered as much.”
Three 30 second adverts will screened on STV and in cinemas featuring three young people thinking about what they’re going to be when they grow up.
For more about SAMH, click here.
For more info on Mental Health Awareness Week, click here.
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