Young people and Mental Health

It's good to talk....

Written by H.S Patterson.

We all have mental health; it is a part of us in the same way as our physical health is. And we all have ups and downs. Bad days and better days. Some downright awesome days. But what happens when something goes awry in our head? When just getting through the day becomes difficult or impossible? And how does it feel to be a young person who is struggling; when often everyone around you seems to be having the time of their lives?

For me, the primary feelings were fear, loneliness, and a deep sense of shame. Fear that I was going mad. Shame because I felt that I was spoilt, self-indulgent, because after all my life appeared perfect. And the isolation. I couldn’t talk to anyone about the sadness, the dark thoughts, the self-hatred. Not only did I not believe anyone could understand, but I thought that I was the only one and that it was somehow “wrong” to feel like this.

I now know I was not alone. At any one time, 1 in 10 young people are suffering from a mental health problem. 25% of young people will self-harm at least once and the same percentage will experience suicidal thoughts. And mental health problems in children and young people are on the increase.

Because being young is not easy. A lot is going on in a short time. School/college stress, exam stress, worries about the future, new friendships, old friendships, sex and relationships, finding out who you are…….and that’s before we get into life events such as bereavement, bullying or abuse-or the hormonal fluctuations that seem to be constantly assaulting your body.

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o what can you do if you recognise that things are not going so well? First, give yourself a break. The brain goes wrong sometimes just the same as any other part of the body. Tell someone how you’re feeling. Doesn’t really matter who-parents, friends, GP, teacher- anyone who will listen and who you feel comfortable with. And do the boring stuff that you know you should do but is easy to let slip-eat fairly healthily, do a bit of exercise, get a decent amount of sleep, lay off the alcohol/drugs (or at least exercise moderation), and make time for things you used to enjoy (even better if that involves being with others). That list isn’t going to fix everything, but in a small way it helps. And when you’re heading towards rock-bottom, even a little bit of improvement will feel like a relief.

And when you’re feeling better, talk about mental health to anyone who will listen. That way the next person to suffer may realise that they are not alone.