TWO-THIRDS of young Scots think adults act dismissively when they try to talk about their mental health struggles, a survey has indicated.
Some 72% of 16 to 24-year-olds in the country say they have struggled with their mental health and more than half (51%) said they would not tell anyone if they were having problems.
Two-thirds (66%) agreed that families can be dismissive when young people try to open up about their mental health, according to the survey of 1000 young people commissioned by charity See Me and carried out by Censuswide.
The research also indicated just under four in 10 young people think teachers take them seriously when they say they are struggling with mental health.
Kirsty Hughes, 19, from the Borders, said she built up the confidence to talk to teachers she had good relationships with but “they kind of dismissed me”.
She said: “They argued that it was just part of being a teenager … But it wasn’t and they made me feel as though my feelings weren’t valid.
“I suddenly thought, ‘if they don’t understand, then nobody’s going to understand’.”
More than half of those polled (54%) thought young people’s mental health has been taken more seriously since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel