Last week was A-Level results week, a time of celebration and the start of an exciting new chapter for many school-leavers. Congratulations! But there aren’t prizes for everyone. It’s easy to forget that while some are celebrating A grades, there are others coping with disappointment. While such moments can turn out to be for the better, it rarely feels like it at the time. Your self-esteem takes a battering, and you struggle with uncertainty about the future.
Everyone has to learn to cope with ups and downs in life, but young people are facing particularly challenging times at the moment, not least living lives constantly in the social media spotlight. Friendships, self-esteem, body image and problems at home are just some of the many issues young people are struggling with, with knock-on consequences for mental health.
Over half of mental health problems start by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 18. Self-harming among young people has increased in the last few years. Eating disorders disproportionately affect young people.
I’ve been really impressed by some of the mental health work going on in local secondary schools, and the maturity of students talking about their mental wellbeing. But there’s still a lot to do, both to understand what actually makes a difference, and to make sure children and young adults get the help they need.
At a national level, the Government is driving forward commitments to improve mental health care, with extra money (£1 billion) for mental health, training 1,500 more medical students a year and creating 21,000 new jobs in mental health, and greater transparency – like the first ever waiting time standards for mental health care.
Mental Health should not be seen as a problem for the NHS to solve. We need to take steps in every part of life - at home, at school, at work, in our other activities. The role of employers is significant, and many are stepping up, investing in training for staff in mental health awareness. Young people getting A-level results and setting off on the next stage of life shouldn't feel afraid to speak up if they struggle. I hope in the next few years we will reach a point where we’ll all have the confidence to discuss and prioritise mental health in the same way we would physical health.
