Young people not seeking out help for mental health issues

MORE than 80% of young people said their mental health has been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

And two-thirds have not sought help for their issues, a survey has found.

It also found that seven out of ten young people believe the Government does not understand their age group, and nearly a quarter didn’t know who the current Taoiseach was, or they thought it was Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.

The research, carried out by radio station Beat 102-103, was presented to the Oireachtas SubCommittee on Mental Health. The My So-Called Covid Life study, conducted by research company Spark, looked at how young people are coping with pandemic life and their fears for the future.

Beat CEO/programme director Gabrielle Cummins said: ‘Over the last year, regional radio station Beat 102-103 has noticed an increase in communication from young people, verbalising their mental health struggles. The findings are grim...

‘They feel they are not being heard. The research indicates a clear disconnect between Government and this demographic.’

Labour senator Annie Hoey said young people have got ‘such a bad rap’ throughout the pandemic, adding that there is a collectivist belief that young people have to put up with it.

Ms Cummins said they are using funding to create projects for young people to help them speak about the effects of lockdown restrictions.

‘We have to communicate with them and inspire them to tell their stories in a positive way and give them uplifting support rather than bashing them,’ she added.