A statistical figure of about a quarter of a million children under the age of 18 is receiving assistance through NHS (National Health Service) mental health services in England. Mental illness has been soaring high among young women typically between 16 to 24 years of age.
The shortcoming, however, arises when services rendered for children aren't able to keep up with the ever-rising demand. According to The Guardian, a research demonstrated that 28 percent of the English children, including some suicidal cases, who were referred for health support didn't receive any help last year.
Due to a lack of sufficient health services, public institutions such as schools and communities have taken up the initiative of launching effective programs to cater to the rising health needs of the people in England.
With the rise of technology, an array of websites and apps has surfaced across the virtual world helping children who are in need of guidance. A social enterprise that goes by the name of Silent Secret allows children of ages 11 to 19 to share their secrets online anonymously and safely.
The network has attracted over 58,000 users since it launched two years back. The reason why it has gained so much success is because it allows online communicability for young ones to share and mend their problems, all the while supporting each other.
Similarly, there's a website called HeadMeds launched by Young Minds. According to Young Minds, HeadMeds is all about helping young individuals find out more about mental health medication and ask questions they may not otherwise ask their parents or consultants. For example, whether the consumption of alcohol is permissible alongside of taking anti-depressants?
The website also contains valuable experiences of others through which one can learn without running the same risks. Information sharing regarding health and medicine can be very useful for everyone, especially the youth who often finds it troublesome to figure out what to do when confronted with a quandary that invokes their clinical depression or some other psychological illness.
