Brits are suffering in silence and don’t know where to turn for help – the 10 signs your loved one is struggling

SPEAKING about your mental health is never the easiest thing.

But new research has shown that young Brits are more likely to suffer in silence when dealing with a serious life event, rather than seek help.

A poll of 1,000 people aged 15-25 found two thirds (66 per cent) have either been through a serious trauma or are currently experiencing one.

And nearly one in 10 (eight per cent) had never had a discussion with someone who could help them.

Those who did reach out took just over five months to ask for support and advice.

The key reasons for this included not wanting to be a ‘burden’, fear of being judged – and simply not knowing where to turn.

And seven in 10 thought there was a stigma around issues like mental health, homelessness, abuse and unexpected unemployment.

For those who are yet to go through any serious issues, 59 per cent claimed they would try and solve it themselves before trying to get help – with only six per cent considering seeking help from local charities.

The most common concerns young people were likely to keep quiet about were mental health (38 per cent), debt trouble (34 per cent) and struggles finding work (24 per cent).

And these could leave people feeling anxious (43 per cent), worried (46 per cent) and vulnerable (37 per cent).

But 37 per cent believed there is either not very much help, or no help at all, for younger people in these circumstances.

While of the 53 per cent who have known someone going through a crisis in their life, 42 per cent said this person stayed quiet about it for ‘a long time’.

The research was commissioned by the KFC Foundation to mark its partnership with Comic Relief, having raised £3 million since 2019.

Together, the charities have been raising funds in a bid to help organisations in local communities by providing safe social spaces, mentoring, employment and social skills for young people.

Ahead of this Red Nose Day on March 17th, Strictly Come Dancing contestant and KISS Radio DJ, Tyler West, joined forces to tackle the stigma around these issues and shine a light on the support that is out there.

Tyler West said: “I can relate to needing support and being afraid to ask for it, but I also know how much impact that support can have on a young person’s life.

“That is why the funding from Comic Relief and the KFC Foundation is so important – it translates into real life benefits for real people when they need it most.

“So this Red Nose Day, share a bucket, buy a bucket or wear a bucket hat and you can help make sure young people know they have somewhere to go.”

Positively, 52 per cent of the young Brits polled via OnePoll said they would consider going into a profession that helps young people dealing with serious issues when they were older.

Based in Blackpool, one of the organisations supported by the KFC Foundation and Comic Relief is Streetlife.

It mentors, coaches and advocates for homeless young people in the local community, helping them find their feet and a stable home so they can think about their future and take steps towards it.

Kaitlyn, 19, beneficiary of the charitable organisation, said: “I’ve been with Streetlife since November 2021 and have pretty much been with the project every day for the past year.

“We build bonds between people and everyone gets to know each other, so it’s something I’m really grateful for.

“I believe that if more people spoke out about their experience and what they’ve been through, it would help make it easier for other people.”

Signs someone is struggling with their mental health

If you think a friend loved one might be struggling with their mental health, there are 10 behaviours to look out for.

According to Mind, they might:

1. be avoiding social events and activities they usually enjoy
2. have difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
3. have difficulty sleeping, or be sleeping too much
4. feel tired all the time
5. have a loss of appetite, or eat too much alternatively
6. be smoking or drinking more than usual
7. have a low sex drive or lose interest in sex
8. have difficulty thinking clearly or making decisions
9. be restless or agitated, or move very slowly
10. have physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause

If someone you love is showing some of these signs, let them know you care and are there to listen to them, NHS guidance recommends.

It’s important not to judge them and to be patient with them.

People who are depressed can become isolated and may find it difficult to leave their home, so stay in touch with your loved one by messaging, phoning or meeting them for coffee.

Gently encourage them to help themselves and gather information about services they can access.

These include NHS therapy and counselling services, helplines they can call, support groups they can attend.

Your loved one can also seek help from their GP on their mental health.