Survey on youth mental health
Excerpts:
One in 10 youngsters questioned in a survey disagreed that “life was really worth living”. Those not in work or education were less likely to be happy.
He added: “Often young people who feel they have reached rock bottom don’t know where to turn for help.”
Of those questioned, 29% said they are less happy now than they were as a child and one in five said they felt like crying “often” or “always”.
Almost half (47%) said they were regularly stressed.
Key to levels of happiness, were relationships with family and friends, although health, money and work were also important.
“Children must be given the chance to speak out, be heard and participate in setting the political agenda about issues affecting their lives, if we are to build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities,” he said.
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: “The government wants to make this the best country in the world to grow up and the Children’s Plan sets out how we will do this with more support for families, world class schools, and exciting things for young people to do outside school, and more places for children to play.