A NEW campaign has been launched to encourage young people in North Ayrshire to talk about how they’re feeling, after a report found their mental health can be often ‘dismissed’ by adults.

A survey of 1000 young Scots has found that two thirds (66 per cent) think young people are dismissed by adults when they try to speak about their mental health. Across West Scotland, the figure stands even higher at 70 per cent, potentially leaving many with nowhere to turn.

See Me volunteer spokesperson Orla Murray, 18, from West Kilbride, has struggled with low mood and anxiety since she was 14 years old.

She said: “My friends were there for me, but I felt I couldn’t talk to adults about it. I was definitely concerned about the reaction of adults.

“As a 14-year-old, in a school where mental health wasn’t really talked about yet, you don’t have that faith in the adult community to speak out about it.

“I felt it was a very isolating experience to then not have these open discussions in the classroom or in the house.”

Commissioned by See Me, Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination, the survey by Censuswide asked 1000 16 to 24-year-olds for their views on mental health ahead of the relaunch of FeelsFM, the world’s first emoji-powered jukebox.

There is hope moving forward, however, as more than half of young people polled (54 per cent) think that young people’s mental health has been taken more seriously since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wendy Halliday, See Me director, said: “We know that the pandemic has had a huge impact on the lives of our young people, and the new-look FeelsFM will give us a chance to better understand the pressures that they face – and I would really encourage young people across North Ayrshire to get involved.

“The platform will focus on the areas young people think are the most important right now, including their interaction with families and the adults who may be responsible in supporting their mental health, like teachers, doctors and managers.

“Nobody, no matter what age they are, should feel belittled or as if their experiences don’t matter when it comes to mental health.”

Youth groups, schools, and others can get involved by finding out more at www.feelsfm.co.uk.

This time the platform is focussing on the impact of adults and families, with 67 per cent of young people nationwide (61 per cent in West Scotland) agreeing that families can be dismissive when a young person says they’re struggling with their mental health.

The research also found that just under four in ten young people (39 per cent) think teachers take them seriously when they say they are struggling with mental health. S

All of the information provided by young about mental health stigma through FeelsFM will be shared with our partners including the Scottish Government to help young people. The findings will also directly inform the work we take forward alongside our volunteers, all who have direct experience of mental health problems and are best placed to encourage and support change.