A new report on the effects of the internet on young people's mental health has found that children in the UK are facing a lack of resources in schools, leaving teachers frustrated and pupils vulnerable.
The report, by family online safety experts Parent Zone, surveyed teachers and young people aged between 13-20.
The report, by family online safety experts Parent Zone, surveyed teachers and young people aged between 13-20.
Results show a generation of young people torn between positive feelings towards the internet (74.5% report that it makes them happy), yet an acknowledgment that there are areas they would tell friends to avoid. 36% of young people who were surveyed admit they would suggest friends avoid Facebook if they were feeling worried or upset.
Findings include:
Over half of 13-20-year-olds surveyed (51%) have seen someone talk about suicide online.
61% of young people have seen someone talk about hurting themselves online.
34% of young people said if they were upset or had a problem, they would talk to a parent or carer first. 27% would talk to someone else they trusted in person. 28% of respondents said their first step would be some kind of online help, ranging from a Google search to an information service for young people. Fewer than 1% would call a helpline first.
44% of teachers think the internet is bad for young people's mental health, compared to 28% of young people.
91% of teachers believe the frequency of mental health issues among pupils is increasing.
Of these issues, schools report stress and anxiety (95%), depression (70%) and self-harm (66%) as the most common issues amongst pupils.
Worryingly, 84% of schools say they do not have adequate resources to deal with pupils' mental health issues.
Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of Parent Zone, says:
‘Family life is arguably more complex now than it has ever been. Children have access to information, views and opinions that adults cannot control. The internet has destroyed any notions we might have had about keeping some things away from children until they were ‘old enough to cope'.
‘All of the indicators suggest that the prevalence of mental health problems and the severity of those problems are increasing. Some people are linking the internet to the increase so we wanted speak to the young people who have grown up with technology and hear their views so that we can start to think about how best to support them.
‘This report offers a glimpse into their world. It does this by doing what parents around the country do when they are concerned about young people - talking to them, and the teachers who look after them.'
Findings include:
Over half of 13-20-year-olds surveyed (51%) have seen someone talk about suicide online.
61% of young people have seen someone talk about hurting themselves online.
34% of young people said if they were upset or had a problem, they would talk to a parent or carer first. 27% would talk to someone else they trusted in person. 28% of respondents said their first step would be some kind of online help, ranging from a Google search to an information service for young people. Fewer than 1% would call a helpline first.
44% of teachers think the internet is bad for young people's mental health, compared to 28% of young people.
91% of teachers believe the frequency of mental health issues among pupils is increasing.
Of these issues, schools report stress and anxiety (95%), depression (70%) and self-harm (66%) as the most common issues amongst pupils.
Worryingly, 84% of schools say they do not have adequate resources to deal with pupils' mental health issues.
Vicki Shotbolt, CEO of Parent Zone, says:
‘Family life is arguably more complex now than it has ever been. Children have access to information, views and opinions that adults cannot control. The internet has destroyed any notions we might have had about keeping some things away from children until they were ‘old enough to cope'.
‘All of the indicators suggest that the prevalence of mental health problems and the severity of those problems are increasing. Some people are linking the internet to the increase so we wanted speak to the young people who have grown up with technology and hear their views so that we can start to think about how best to support them.
‘This report offers a glimpse into their world. It does this by doing what parents around the country do when they are concerned about young people - talking to them, and the teachers who look after them.'