Mental health issues have risen amongst young people at an alarming rate. One in three young people are experiencing low-grade mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, negative feelings or inability to focus.
In the following ‘Exposure Asks’, we will highlight certain issues that truly affect our generation which include stigma of mental health in BAME communities; gaming addiction; loneliness and more.
Students from Woodhouse College explore this complex topic and share their perspectives on what could help young people look after their own mental health. We aim to have good mental health for all!
Scroll down and use the slider tool to see how this group responded, and to view relevant thoughts and facrs they wanted to share. The images on the left show how the students felt, while the images on the right provide information on each issue.
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil: ethnic minorities suffer in silence
— by Anisa, Hope, Jamila and Kemi
In some BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities mental health is often a taboo topic; dismissed and overlooked. People from ethnic minority groups are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health problem yet less likely to take advantage of mental health services. This leads to social isolation and an overall worsening of their mental state.
Some families may turn to religion for treating mental illness or ‘alternative’ forms of therapy. But this can be traumatising and may have long term psychological effects. This is often unquestioned within communities because of tradition and lack of education on mental wellbeing.
Recently, grime artist Stormzy has spoken out about his battles with mental health; he highlights the common misconception that you should be able to ‘get on with it’, especially within BAME communities.
Seeing a popular black artist speak out about the effects of mental health may have a positive impact on young people experiencing similar issues, as many look up to him as an influential figure.
“If there is anyone out there going through that, I think that for them to see that I went through it would help,” says Stormzy. This emphasises that changes are beginning to occur in BAME communities.
Don’t let your ethnicity get in the way: if you need someone to talk to someone call Childline 0800 1111.
We smashed our PS4 to stop the addiction
— by Dom, Brandon and Stanley
Being addicted to video games has recently been labelled as a gaming disorder. This means many people must believe being addicted to games is an illness.
Research shows that playing violent video games regularly, can cause aggressive behaviour in some gamers.
Dom: For me, during GCSEs, I managed to combat the urge to play. I realised bigger things were at risk (my sleep and my grades) so took the decision to pack away my PlayStation and leave it until my exams were over. In the end, it was extremely worthwhile and I was immediately able to see the drastic benefits.
Brandon: During my GCSEs I realised that I had to dedicate all my time and effort into these tests. This meant I had to give up the PlayStation for a while. At the start I wasn’t as strict with myself but I then realised how much of a distraction it was to my education. I got my parents to hide the PS4 controllers and I then focused more on revising and studying.
Stanley: Right before GCSEs one of my mates gave me a call and told me about how he couldn’t stop gaming. This was the kind of guy who would smoke weed all the time and play games for literally the whole day. He ended up deciding to smash the console so he could truly take out all his rage and get rid of it for good. We took a hammer to it and he ended up getting decent grades and to this days still hasn’t bought a new one.
What to do if you feel you are addicted to gaming:
- Tell parents, or others that you trust, that you feel like video games are negatively affecting your life, i.e to the neglect of other things;
- When the fun stops, STOP!
For help you can try:
Addiction treatments
Techaddiction
Guide to help treating video game addiction
Is social media the best way 4 staying connected?
— by Leila and Christina
With new technology such as mobiles and social media, teenagers can become so engaged with the online phenomenon that they can isolate themselves.
There are more opportunities today to connect with others than ever before: instant messaging allows people to share experiences together without being in the same place at the same time.
But research has shown that high use of the internet is linked to loneliness. Talking to people online can replace the offline communication, increasing feelings of isolation.
We have both found friendships online and believe that internet communication should not always been seen in a negative light, however it is equally important to connect physically with others and build relationships offline.
People normally assume that there are more elderly people who are lonely. Yet, statistics show that, in reality, young people feel loneliness more intensely and more frequently than any other age group. Between the ages of 16 and 24, people generally go through a time of identity change and of learning to regulate emotions, which can lead to a feeling of isolation.
Many teenagers have probably had symptoms of loneliness in their lifetime, however they may not have known this themselves, as it doesn’t seem to be spoken up about much until recently.
Being alone and lonely aren’t the same thing. Only a third of people say they think loneliness is about being by yourself. 83% of people like being on their own.
We explored our own emotions towards this, and both of us agreed that we value our ‘alone’ time as a way of relaxing and recuperating.
Loneliness is not just about being physically alone. Even teenagers with lots of friends and supportive parents can experience it. Youth loneliness can sometimes be more about finding it difficult to connect with other people, having to step out of our comfort zone when confronted with new faces, instead of being alone physically.
You are more than just your size
— by Mia, Rosie and Sarah
As three teenage girls living in north London, in a society highly influenced by social media and unrealistic body images, we feel compelled to discuss the very prevalent topic of eating disorders. Young people between the ages of 14 and 25 are most at risk.
On average, eating disorders first develop around the age of 16 to 17, this means that one in five women have or will struggle with a detrimental eating disorder at some point in their lives.
Recognising eating disorders as complex conditions unique to an individual, is not only important in the treatment and recovery process, but it is vital to understand them as serious mental health issues.
Collectively, we believe that eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, need to be understood and talked about more to help stamp out stigma. They are not uncommon. 1.6 million people have a diagnosed eating disorder in the UK.
If you are worried you may have an eating problem you can contact your family doctor, who can help you to contact specialist eating disorder services. You can also find help and support here.
Why isn’t my mental health a priority?
— by Christiana and Sadia
The NHS provides free counselling to cope with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
However, according to the British Medical Association, patients are waiting up to two years for counselling. This is even though the NHS has increased spending on mental health services from £11.4 to £11.9 billion this year.
Private counselling costs up to £70 per session. Not many young people or their parents can afford this.
In the meantime adults need to be there to listen to their children and understand what we are going through instead of just dismissing our feelings and thinking it’s ‘normal’. It isn’t normal to feel this much self-hatred and isolation.
Sadly, many young people go through this but they hide behind the stigma and shame that can be brought upon them if they reveal their true feelings.
Tackling the mind
If you are affected by any of the issues listed above or want to share a story of your own, we’d love your feedback! Comment below, visit our Facebook page or tweet us to let us know your thoughts.
Remember: Exposure is always looking for young contributors so if you feel strongly about something email fran@exposure.org.uk.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Exposure is an award-winning youth communications charity giving young people in north London a voice. Please support us to continue our work. Thank you.
__________________________________________________________________________________