Latest news with #youthsupport
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Devon youth charity sees rise in mental health struggles
A youth charity is raising awareness of what it says is a growing mental health crisis among children and teenagers driven by social media pressures, global anxieties, and a lack of meaningful adult Devon, a charity supporting young people across the county, reported a 4% rise in inquiries for help over the past year, with 3,227 new cases between April 2024 and March 2025. Ros Arscott, director of youth work, said the nature of these struggles is evolving: "It's not just about introspection anymore."Young people are fearful, about wars, climate change, and the future they see unfolding in front of them every day." Increasing social media and mobile phone use were compounding these issues, creating constant pressure and few safe spaces for self-expression, she said. "Everything is so micro-managed now for young people, everything they do is really emphasised," said Ms Arscott."As a teenager, you're learning who you are, and your body grows and your mind grows, and you want to test things out and explore things, and there isn't safe spaces to do that. "You make a mistake and everybody knows about it. You're not quite who you want to be because you've seen that's what somebody says you should be doing."Belle, 13, shared her frustration: "If I go to talk to someone, they say they only have 10 minutes because they're busy." The Youth Enquiry Service in Barnstaple has become a vital lifeline for many. Des, 24, has been using the service for several years. "It's a safe, non-judgmental space where I can be myself," he said. "Just knowing there's somewhere I can open up when I need to, it means everything."When asked what would improve their mental health, young people did not ask for therapy or counselling, said Ms Arscott."They said they want more family time," she said."They want affordable activities they can do together. It was obvious when they said it, of course that's what they need. We don't have to fix people. We have to help them stay well."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two new 'one-stop shop' family hubs open
Two new council-run family hubs have been opened, offering services including parenting advice, child development clinics and youth support. North Northamptonshire Council held events to open the hubs at Glapthorn Road, Oundle and Newton Road, Rushden. They act as "one-stop shops" for families, with the aim of giving children the best start in life and supporting parents and carers, the Reform UK-run council said. Council leader Martin Griffiths said: "The last few years have been a tough time for young people and families and we have to do whatever we can to support them." He added: "I'm very proud of our expanding family hubs network and I'm delighted to see the great work that is happening right at the heart of our communities." The council opened its first family hub in Towcester and plans to open a fourth by the end of the year. Elizabeth Wright, executive member for children, families, education and skills, said they are "friendly and safe spaces for babies, children, young people and their parents or carers to go when they need help and support". Family hubs date to the early 2000s, when New Labour introduced Sure Start centres - focused on supporting young families with early education, childcare and health advice. Many closed after 2010 when funding was cut by the Tories, but in 2024 the Conservative government under Rishi Sunak rolled out 400 new "family hubs" across 75 local authorities. The Labour government recently announced plans to expand the network to up to 1,000 by the end of 2028. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Food voucher scheme 'paused' due to high demand Family hubs to open in every council in England Councils commit £1.5m to domestic abuse service Related internet links North Northamptonshire Council
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
'One-stop shop' family hubs open in Rushden and Oundle
Two new council-run family hubs have been opened, offering services including parenting advice, child development clinics and youth Northamptonshire Council held events to open the hubs at Glapthorn Road, Oundle and Newton Road, Rushden. They act as "one-stop shops" for families, with the aim of giving children the best start in life and supporting parents and carers, the Reform UK-run council leader Martin Griffiths said: "The last few years have been a tough time for young people and families and we have to do whatever we can to support them." He added: "I'm very proud of our expanding family hubs network and I'm delighted to see the great work that is happening right at the heart of our communities." The council opened its first family hub in Towcester and plans to open a fourth by the end of the Wright, executive member for children, families, education and skills, said they are "friendly and safe spaces for babies, children, young people and their parents or carers to go when they need help and support".Family hubs date to the early 2000s, when New Labour introduced Sure Start centres - focused on supporting young families with early education, childcare and health closed after 2010 when funding was cut by the Tories, but in 2024 the Conservative government under Rishi Sunak rolled out 400 new "family hubs" across 75 local Labour government recently announced plans to expand the network to up to 1,000 by the end of 2028. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
RNZ News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Gumboot Friday founder says measure of success is young people getting help fast
Mike King says in the last year no child who had asked for a counselling session via Gumboot Friday had missed out. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly The founder of Gumboot Friday's youth counselling initiative Mike King says the service is meeting demand and all young people who are coming through are getting sessions in an appropriate time frame. Gumboot Friday has had a green light for its second year of funding but has had its targets increased after meeting the minimum numbers set for its first year. In the first 12 months it has delivered 30,000 sessions for 10,000 young people, that target will go up to 40,000 sessions for 15,000 people. It now has 700 counsellors, which is a 33 percent increase over the last year. The government had announced the I Am Hope foundation (the parent charity of Gumboot Friday) would receive $6 million a year for four years to provide counselling services to five- to 25-year-olds, as part of the coalition agreement. Last year the process by which the charity was awarded funding came under scrutiny by the auditor-general who said the way the decision came about was "unusual and inconsistent". But Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has backed the charity saying it is helping thousands of young people get access to support faster. King said the young people getting help fast was his measure of success. Talking to RNZ's Checkpoint King said that this year all the children who had have asked for a session were seen in a timely fashion. He said no one missed out on counselling sessions. Currently Gumboot Friday has got 742 counsellors on its books according to King, and another 70-odd were going through CV check. He clarified that Gumboot Friday was a voluntary service, not a service provider. "We provide a platform which connects young people in need of counselling, who would like counselling with professionals who can provide counselling. "And we are meeting the demand, so everyone who's coming through is getting the sessions in the appropriate amount of time." On average Gumboot Friday provided three and a half sessions per young person, King said. If a young person needed more counselling sessions, the counsellor could reapply and Gumboot Friday would provide them with extra sessions, he said. King rejected the assertion that children could only receive a maximum of four counselling sessions through the programme. "If any counsellor comes to us and says they have a young person in need, on a case-by-case basis they will be granted extra sessions." Previously many young people could only get a counselling session if they were in crisis, which was often too late, he said. "We are an early intervention system where young people can voluntarily come forward and talk about a little problem before it becomes a big problem, before it becomes a suicidal thought," King said. "However, if a young person comes to us in crisis and they need extra care, they reach out to us and we will pathway them to crisis teams and crisis mental health where and when it is needed." King told Checkpoint that no other mental health service organisations in New Zealand delivered the same breadth of counselling services for anyone aged from five to 25 and gave "100 percent of the government funding to the counsellors" while covering the other costs themselves. "So yes I am comfortable that we do this better than anyone else out there." The minister has set a target for the next year for Gumboot Friday to organise 40,000 sessions for 15,000 people in the next 12 months. Asked whether Gumboot Friday would be able to meet the minister's new target, King said "target schmarget, we will meet the demand". King was confident that young people who came forward for counselling sessions would get them. "I have said to the minister we will meet the target of any young person coming into our service up to $6 million a year." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CNA
21-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
CNA Special - Age of Anxiety: What's driving the youth mental health crisis in Singapore? (Part 1)
It was the call that all parents dread – news that his 17-year-old son took his life. Five years on, 'Sean' still grapples with the reasons why. The reality is that one in three young people in Singapore experience significant mental health challenges. What's driving these numbers? Crispina Robert goes in search of answers and speaks to people living through their own darkness and professionals on the frontlines. WHERE TO SEEK HELP If you or someone you know is struggling and needs support, please consider reaching out to one of the helplines below. Youthline: +65 6436 6612 (call), 8533 9460 (text) and over email at hello [at] Youthline provides free mental health support to youth via phone, email or a live chat service. It runs from 9am to midnight daily. Calls outside of operating hours are redirected to Samaritans of Singapore or the Singapore Civil Defence Force for emergency medical services. Samaritans of Singapore: 1767 (call), 9151 1767 (WhatsApp text) and over email at pat [at] Samaritans of Singapore provides round-the-clock confidential emotional support for individuals in crisis, thinking about or affected by suicide. The call and text-based services are operational 24 hours a day, every day of the week. National Mindline: 1771 (call), 6669 1771 (WhatsApp) and through online webchat on the website. This is a round-the-clock confidential national-level helpline. Beyond immediate counselling, those who require more support can be directed to the appropriate care and resources.
