Teen mental health - Don’t judge, just listen

The new report on teenage mental health, published by Headstrong — the National Centre for Youth Mental Health — makes disturbing reading.

It was based on a survey of 10,000 young people, who generally described themselves as “being bored, alienated and not fitting in”.

Some may not be the problem children of today but many are likely to become problem adults because they are not receiving the necessary help during this formative period. One in five adolescents said that they had no one to talk to about their problems and a similar proportion have already been in trouble with the police.

Dr Tony Bates, founding director of Headstrong, said that having an older person who believes in them is vital for these young people. Ignoring the problems will cost more later. Through widespread social indifference, we are breeding misery and courting disaster.

Headstrong has programmes in Galway and Ballymun, but much more is obviously needed.

It is important that more people should be made aware of the need of this service and the part they can play by being prepared to listen to young people.