NEW research has suggested that four in 10 young people in the North-East is suffering from mental ill health.

Research commissioned by Hidden Strength, which provides mental health and wellbeing support for young people, showed that 3.3 million people in the UK aged between 13 and 24 suffer from something which affects their mental health.

More locally, it showed that 42 per cent of young people in the North-East said they were suffering from mental ill health, and 62 per cent said they would take up therapy if it was free to access.

Following the results, and to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, a new app for young people was launched which uniquely offers free 24/7 access to therapists and real-time support for young people in crisis or struggling with their mental health.

The Hidden Strength app is available to people aged 13-24 and facilitates a community of like-minded people to anonymously come together and support each other, with round-the-clock access to tools and activities that promote holistic mental wellbeing.

Hidden Strength will help combat the UK’s growing mental health crisis which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; its research revealed more than two thirds (67 per cent) of young people in the North-East who are suffering from mental ill-health have only done so since the first lockdown in March 2020, whilst 68 per cent said their condition had worsened in the past 14 months.

This trend is also set to continue, with a quarter (26 per cent) of young people in the North-East saying they felt very anxious about the return to normal once lockdown restrictions lift.

Dr Dawn Harper, practicing NHS GP, TV presenter and member of the Hidden Strength Advisory Board said: “Working as an NHS GP, I have seen a worrying increase in the number of young people suffering with mental health issues in recent years.

“The effect of the pandemic has sadly exacerbated the problem, so I was delighted to join the team at Hidden Strength to help combat the issue with such an innovative solution. The Hidden Strength app is a unique ‘one stop shop’ for mental health and wellbeing for teenagers and young adults, allowing them to access reliable support where and when they need it, in a safe and secure way.”

The app will fill a gap in the provision of mental health services for young people who say their needs aren’t fulfilled by options currently available.

According to Hidden Strength’s research, a quarter (24 per cent) of young people with mental ill-health in the North-East would like to be able to access mental health support 24/7, with over a third (38 per cent ) saying they would like this to be anonymous and an equal number (38 per cent) preferring to access support digitally via an app or website.

John Cameron OBE, former director of Childline and member of the Hidden Strength Advisory Board said: “In a world in which children have greater familiarity with online services, engaging with friends online, and at risk of being exposed to harmful material, the importance of utilising children’s preferred methods of contact and providing a child-focused, accessible, supporting digital platform cannot be underestimated.

“The uniqueness of the Hidden Strength app is an illustration of a significant evolutionary jump in the provision of support for children and young people online. To receive support and guidance from peers as well as therapists via the app, when they need it, will be impactful for children and young people who are suffering distress and harm, as they will be provided much-needed support which will help them develop skills to lead more confident and fulfilling lives.”