Mental illness is one of biggest difficulties children and young people face

Whether it is temper tantrums or giggle fits, a wobbly bottom lip or a happy dance, children are experts when it comes to showing heightened emotion. But when it comes to mental health, it’s important that we validate a child’s feelings just as much as we would validate an adult’s.
Mental illness is one of the biggest difficulties faced by children. In the last year, 250,000 called Childline to talk about what was worrying them.Mental illness is one of the biggest difficulties faced by children. In the last year, 250,000 called Childline to talk about what was worrying them.
Mental illness is one of the biggest difficulties faced by children. In the last year, 250,000 called Childline to talk about what was worrying them.

Mental health effects people of all ages and all backgrounds. But it can be difficult to accept that a child suffers from something like depression or anxiety. Unfortunately, we can often underestimate how much it can affect young people.

In reality, mental illness is one of the biggest difficulties faced by children. In the last year, 250,000 called Childline to talk about what was worrying them. Of these, 45% called to discuss mental health difficulties, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

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Many children tell us how they are concerned that people won’t believe them if they say they think they are suffering from mental illness. A lot of the time, they say that people won’t believe them because of their age, and that their feelings will be dismissed.

One girl told Childline: “My mum sometimes notices when I’m not myself but she brushes it off as, ‘just thinking about homework and exams too much’, and doesn't go any further when it seems she needs to.”

It’s natural for children or young people to feel stressed or anxious about things like exams or moving to a new school. But while these experiences can be very difficult, they’re different from longer term mental illnesses, which affects how a child or young person feels every day.

When dealing with long term emotions, no matter the age of the child, it’s important to avoid phrases like, ‘You’ll get over it’, or ‘You’re too young to understand’. This could make the child or young person feel more hesitant to talk about their feelings. One boy told Childline: “I've been struggling with incredibly graphic and violent intrusive thoughts for years. I'm just a kid, and I feel like I'm being denied help because it's something I'll ‘grow out of’ or will ‘eventually go away’.”

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Knowing how to talk to your child about their mental health, or recognising the signs that they might be struggling, can be hard. Signs of depression and anxiety in particular can sometimes look like normal behaviour, particularly in teenagers who can keep their feelings to themselves, so it’s important that we familiarise ourselves with them.

In children and teenagers, there are three main signs of depression and anxiety.

Becoming withdrawn and spending less time with friends and family; changes in eating or sleeping patterns; seeming tearful, upset, low, or angry.

If you do spot any of these signs, there is something you can do. The simplest being letting them know that you are there, and that it’s OK for them to feel this way. It’s important to stay calm and patient, and seek support yourself, if you need it.

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It can be useful to speak to a GP and seek further support for the child or young person. This might be through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, prescribed medication, or talking therapy.

You can spend time with them learning ways to cope together, like trying yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness activities. This could also involve talking, texting or drawing about their feelings.

They can also talk to Childline. Childline is a free and confidential service for young people under 18. Children can talk to a trained counsellor over the phone, online via 1-2-1 chat or via email about anything that’s worrying them, 24 hours a day.

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or at https://www.childline.org.uk/

Adults concerned about the wellbeing of a child can phone the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 8005000.