Record numbers of young people are experiencing mental health problems, yet YoungMinds reveals many face stigma and discrimination when they seek help.
According to recent research with almost 14,000 young people, 35% said that they had this negative experience when seeking support, which included teachers, GPs and other professionals.
More than half (51%) of those surveyed said that they felt embarrassed or ashamed to reach out for treatment or support. Almost 4 in 10 (37%) said they didn't want anyone to find out they were seeking help for their mental health.
The findings come against a backdrop of record NHS figures, with recent NHS data revealing that 2022/23 is set to see the highest ever number of referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). A total of 241,791 young people were referred to the NHS in the first three months of this year - already half the total figure referred in the whole of last year.
The findings also come alongside research with teachers across England in which they said mental health of more than hald of their students (55%) continues to be impact by the pandemic.
