Young People and Counselling

Young People and Counselling

Counselling is being accessed more and more by young people. The below reports and surveys give some ideas of what may be creating this trend.

A report has recently been published by the National Union of Teachers that includes responses from 8000 teachers.

It states that pressure from exams and testing is creating unprecedented levels of anxiety, stress and mental health problems. Low achievement in these tests results in low motivation and low self esteem which then leads to self harm eating disorders and attempted suicide. Pressure from parents can they exacerbate things.

The report finalised by calling for an urgent review of testing and school inspections.

A recent survey by Mind and the Lucy Rayner Foundation states that:

• More than half of young people aged 18-24 find it difficult to talk about feelings.
• Nearly two thirds put on a smile and say that they are OK.
• 48% keep the way that they are feeling secret and 49% actively lie about it when they are feeling down.
• Half of them say that they feel better when they are actually able to talk about things.

The Girlguiding’s Girls Attitude Survey says:

• 58% of girls aged 13-21 believe that mental health is a serious concern.
• 37% said that they worried about cyberbullying.
• 36% worried about not being able to get a job.
• 82% said that adults do not recognize the amount of pressure that they are under.
• 2 in 5 girls aged 11-21 has needed help with mental health.
• 28% of 11-16 year olds have needed help but this increases to 46% of 17-21 year olds.
• They are concerned about self-harm, smoking, mental illness, depression and eating disorders.

There are many ways that young people can gain the support that they are looking for.

Examples include:

• Approaching their doctor.
• Approaching their parents or teachers.
• Accessing school counselling provision if there is one.
• Accessing websites such as http://www.youngminds.org.uk gives access to local counselling resources.
• Accessing websites such as kooth.com offers free online counselling support.
• Access Childline via 0800 1111 

Lastly of course private counselling may be an option and a suitable counselor may be sourced form websites such as:

http://www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk

The above sites will help to locate counsellors working in your area that may be able to help.