FROM a sporting point of view I think the Year of Young People has been an undoubted success. It has offered a focal point for many national governing bodies. Putting the focus on the many benefits young people can bring to organisations has made us more aware of how to integrate them without frightening the life out of them and turning them away from being involved in the non-playing side of sport. Ensuring their voices are heard and that we, the adults, are listening, must be the priority.
At an event held by sportscotland at Hampden Park last week, we heard many positive stories from a variety of young people as the focus was on Young People as Leaders in Sport. For some time young people may have been encouraged to get involved in sport in a coaching capacity. But what is now becoming clear is that by including a young person or group of young people as part of the decision-making process, as part of a committee, organisations can create a win-win situation for young people and themselves.
This is in direct contrast to the statistics that hit the headlines about the mental health problems young people are facing. The survey was carried out in England, but there is no reason to believe Scotland doesn’t face the same issues. We must make this an area of priority and work hard to ensure we understand the symptoms, can identify them quickly and can put to place whatever support is needed to ensure help is available.
LGBT teens are identified as much more at risk, and young women aged 17 to 19 are more than twice as likely to be struggling as young men the same age, with anxiety and depression being the most common disorders. In fact it was noted that nearly one in four young women has been identified as having a mental illness. These figures make sad and frightening reading and there is no easy answer to this problem. Life is challenging and for those who are just moving into adulthood it can be a
lonely experience.
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