1) A quarter of 14-year-old girls and nearly one in 10 boys show signs of depression according to a UK study. Teenage girls report more anxiety and depressive symptoms than boys. 2) Teenagers from poorer backgrounds or those with mixed or white ethnic backgrounds have a higher risk of depression. Boys from mixed or other ethnic groups are also at greater risk. 3) Factors that can contribute to teenage mental health issues include worries about body image, exam stress, family issues, bullying, drug abuse, low self-esteem, poverty, and peer rejection.

1. RESEARCH
Teenage Mental Heath

2. "A quarter of girls and nearly one in 10 boys show signs of depression at
the age of 14, say UK researchers," this line stated by the BCC reveals
the large number of young teenagers experience some kind of depression
and that mental health including depression is very common in both
genders. The article also reveals that the child’s parent is most likely to
underestimate the stress their daughters are under and would have
concerns about their son’s that did not voice their own concerns. It is also
apparent that being from a poorer background or being mixed or having a
white ethnic background appears to raise the risk.
The Millennium Cohort Study survey suggests:
■ Teenage girls report more anxiety and depressive symptoms than boys
■ 14-year-olds from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to
report depressive symptoms than peers from better-off families
■ Boys from mixed and other ethnic groups are at a greater risk of
depressive symptoms
■ Bangladeshi and Indian boys are the least likely to report these

3. Factors which could contribute include:
■ Worries about body image
■ Exam Stress
■ Family Issues
■ Bullying
■ Drug abuse
■ Low self-esteem
■ Poverty
■ Peer rejection

4. ■ “One in four British girls has depression at the age of 14 as experts blame
the increase in cyber bullying and academic pressure," says the Sun after
a large study found 24% of 14 year-old girls in the UK report symptoms of
depression.
■ New research shows that half of teenage boys in the UK would not feel
comfortable talking to their dads about their mental health (including
stress, anxiety and depression). This is due to feeling like their dad doesn’t
talk about his feelings and 31% said they wouldn’t want to annoy or disturb
them.A survey revealed that 37% of young men chose to ‘put a brave face
on’ when struggling with mental health problems and 33% would rather
keep it to themselves.
■ It is apparent that half of all cases of adult mental health illness start at 14
years old.
■ Cat Perrin who is 20, is a student nurse and has had mental health
problems since being a teenager. She has stated to the BBC, “When I was
14 I was really low, a bit hopeless... I kind of isolated myself a bit. I felt
constant pressure to be better than I was. I got really down and anxious.”
She believes teenagers are struggling with mental health issues because
of the influence of social media. "There's this constant pressure to see how
many people are better or prettier than you. There is pressure to do well at
school, get a good job, be financially stable - but at the end of the day,
they're just children."

5. ■ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/12/boy-killed-bullied-good-looking-
inquest-told/
■ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/05/students-mental-ill-
health-toxic-world
Case Studies:
Teen Mental Illness