Young face more challenges than parents, poll finds amid call to tackle suicide
Young face more challenges than parents, poll finds amid call to tackle suicide
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Almost two-thirds of UK adults believe young people are facing more challenges than their parents’ generation, according to a survey. It comes amid a call to action from the Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm) to tackle suicide rates among young adults.
More than half of the people who responded to the poll also believe the Government should be doing more to tackle the issue. According to Calm, “Government inaction” has “consistently failed young people in the UK”. Analysis of Office for National Statistics figures by the suicide prevention charity found there were 6,929 suicides among 15 to 24-year-olds in England between 2012 and 2022.
The poll of 2,043 adults, conducted by YouGov for Calm, found 62% believe those aged 15 to 24 are facing more challenges than their parents’ generation. Some 52% of those who responded to the poll said they believe the Government should be doing more to tackle the issue.
Almost two-thirds (63%) said they think tackling the impact of social media on mental health has not been effective. Insufficient funding for public services was raised as an issue by 59% of people, while 44% blamed a lack of suicide prevention resources.
More than half (55%) said pupils in the UK are not getting enough mental health support in schools. Simon Gunning, chief executive of Calm, said: “We cannot stand idly by while young lives continue to be needlessly lost. “Over the past decade, 6,929 young adults have taken their own lives in the UK, and these statistics serve as a deafening call to action against Government inaction, which has consistently failed young people in the UK.”.
