Wellbeing: Anxiety, depression & self-harm

What is anxiety? 

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear – it is an understandable reaction in children to change or a stressful event. But for some children/young people, anxiety affects their behaviour and thoughts on a daily basis, interfering with their school, home and social life. 

What is depression/low mood? 

The Anna Freud Centre outlines that low mood can mean an absence of feeling, irritability, lack of pleasure, and/or lack of motivation. Most people have experienced this at times. However, low mood means that people feel this way persistently. Doctors define low mood as feeling this way for over two weeks. It is not always easy to spot low mood. Signs include changes in behaviour and relationships with friends and school staff, becoming more withdrawn and fluctuating attendance. Low mood may be related to range of factors, including challenging home circumstances, bullying or difficult peer relationships. 

What is self-harm? 

According to the NICE guidelines for self-harm, self-harm is defined as intentional self-poisoning or injury irrespective of the apparent purpose of the act. Prevalence statistics are unreliable because it is a problem that is sometimes hidden. Although people of all demographics self-harm, it is particularly common among adolescents. Prevalence estimates suggest that about 17% of young people have self-harmed in their lifetime, with the average age of onset around 12-13 years of age, and peak prevalence during mid-adolescence. While reasons for self-harm are unique to individuals, many people self-harm to manage distress or emotional dysregulation. But worryingly, few young people seek professional help for their self-harm or mental health.