A rise in #suicidalideation, an increase in those presenting with eating difficulties and higher rates of self-harm, a report from Kooth, the UK’s leading digital #mentalhealth platform, into the #mentalhealth of #children and young people across London has revealed.
Kooth in the Capital: Understanding and Supporting the #MentalHealth of London’s #Children and Young People explores anonymous data from over 24,000 active users of the Kooth platform – available to all those aged 10 to 25 years old across all 32 London Boroughs – from 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021. The new study highlights the toll the #pandemic has taken on #children and young people’s #mentalhealth, as well as, giving a clearer understanding of what’s on their minds. This includes:
- 18-25s are experiencing higher rates of self-harm than before the #pandemic: Over the past 12 months there was a 38% increase in young #adults in London registered to the Kooth platform presenting with self-harm #behaviours. However, in December 2020 and January 2021, the data shows a staggering rise of 374% and 114% compared to the same months the previous year. Kooth also saw a 28% rise in young #Black people in London presenting with self-harm this year versus last year.
- Increasing demand for eating difficulties intervention: The number of #children and young people presenting with eating problems increased by 32% over the previous 12 months, with a worrying 56% increase observed among #Black, #Asian, and non-white ethnic groups. As London moved into the nation’s highest tier of #Covid-19 restrictions in January 2021, over one in 10 under-18s were presenting with eating difficulties.
- #Suicidalideation is on the rise: Kooth recorded its highest number of young people seeking help for #suicidalideation in April 2021 – an increase of a third (31.7%) compared to the previous year. The increase is also affecting over-18s. In the period from October 2020 to June 2021, more than one in five service users had suicidal thoughts. The report finds this health concern to be more prevalent in the capital, while there has been a 12% increase in those presenting in London, the rest of the country saw a -3% decrease year on year.
- Disruption to #school and college experiences: there was a 40% increase in over 18s, and almost a 25% rise in under 18s in London presenting with school/ college issues. One in 10 (11%) #Black and South #Asian children and young people presented with school/ college issues, an increase on last year of 37% and 15% respectively.
What’s more in London alone new registrations by #children and young people to the Kooth platform rose by a third (33%), with almost half (49%) coming from #children and young people of #Black, #Asian and Non-White backgrounds. And there was a 13% increase in users logging into the Kooth platform than the previous year.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Tim Barker, CEO, Kooth said:
“#Children and young people have been experiencing disruptions to their education, home life, and work lives due to #Covid-19, and we are just now beginning to understand the extent of its impact on their #mentalhealth and the full scope of the crisis. It is imperative that those supporting #children and young people with their #mentalhealth, or those with #mentalhealth concerns themselves understand how and where to go for help. In addition, the report indicates that the virus and its social impacts are disproportionately impacting #Black, #Asian and Non-White communities. Prioritising engagement between youth #mentalhealthservices and local referring organisations to ensure early identification and appropriate intervention for #children and young people from all backgrounds is an additional necessary step moving forward.”
The report delves deeper into the essential skills those supporting #children and young people with #mentalhealth concerns can have – spotting the signs, having the conversation, then signposting or seeking the help #children and young people need. As well as giving an overview of the ecosystem of support that is waiting to make the journey just a little bit better.
Dr Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer, Kooth added:
“Being aware of common signs is important and helpful, however this can also feel overwhelming for #parents and carers who are not trained in #mentalhealth and who may be anxious about over ‘pathologising’ their child’s #behaviour. This is particularly true with #adolescents as many of the symptoms of worsening #mentalhealth can be attributed to hormonal/brain changes and ‘normal’ development. The best piece of advice I could give to #parents is to pay attention to changes in your #child and talk to them about the potential reasons. This will help you both to understand whether there might be an underlying #mentalhealth difficulty which may need exploring further. Do remember to be alert to and ask about positive changes in presentation too as in some cases, this can mask an underlying problem (e.g. initial happiness that comes from successfully controlling eating can quickly lead to obsessional dieting which can turn into an #eatingdisorder if not monitored). If in doubt, always seek help from a specialist – that’s what they are there for! My message for parents is: you are not overreacting; you are not wasting people’s time; you have not failed as a #parent – sometimes we all just need a bit more help.’
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
