New research from England has shed light on youth mental health and what troubles teenagers.
The survey shows that by the age of 16, almost a quarter of children (22 per cent) admit to feeling ‘extremely’ low at least once a day.
Around half of kids feel sad or anxious at least once a week by the age of 12, though that figure rises to 70 per cent by the age of 16.
The figures come from a survey carried out by YouGov for children’s charity Bernardo’s for Children’s Mental Health Week.
The biggest source of anxiety for teens in the survey was stress at school.
The future was a worry for 42 per cent of kids, while 31 per cent said problems at home caused them anxiety.
Being bullied was a source of stress for 25 per cent while weight and body image was an issue for 26 per cent.
Social media appears to play a prominent role in anxiety – the second-biggest cause of anxiety reported was being accepted by peers online while 11 per cent of teens said they were worried about getting enough ‘likes’ on Facebook.
So what can you do if your child is suffering with worry or anxiety?
Psychologist David Carey says that explaining that you worry too can help.
“It will be helpful to let your child know how you cope with your worries,” he wrote in an op-ed for HerFamily.
“Do you go for a brisk walk? Do some exercise? Read a book or watch a movie? Try to stop and think about how you can solve the problem that worries you? The more we can teach children about coping, the better protected they become from excessive worry and anxiety.”
You might also find our guide on how to spot if your child’s anxiety is out of control helpful. Read it here.
