Stress and social media fuel mental health crisis among girls

I've been watching this story grow over the last few years, it seems that the mental health crisis in our young people is escalating at a huge rate. We all remember how tough being a teenager was. Now add in increased school pressure and heightened social media use causing a rise in bullying, stress, comparisons, judgements, insecurities and peer pressure, and you've got a recipe for disaster. 

Take a look at this article. "NHS data shows 68% rise in hospital admissions because of self-harm among girls under 17 in past decade. Rates of stress, anxiety and depression are rising sharply among teenage girls in what mental health specialists say is a “deeply worrying” trend that is far less pronounced among boys of the same age."

So what can we do? Encourage our young people to unplug, switch off, practice mindfulness (being present in each moment), learn how to deal with bullies by realising they are just troubled kids trying to feel more powerful because they too feel powerless, tell them how much they are loved and practice gratitude and positive affirmations with them each day (I am loved, I am strong, I am powerful etc). If you know any young people who are feeling troubled, most importantly let them know that you care.