Youth Mental Health: What you should know

Most of us experience times when we feel off in some way. For example: sad, worried, guilty, scared or suspicious. These feelings can become a challenge if they last longer than two weeks or get in the way of our daily lives.

Mental health challenges can affect anyone. The signs may be visible to other people (like changes in behaviour) or invisible (like thoughts and feelings). 

Here are some examples of what to look out for:

1. Sleeping or eating either more or less than usual
2. Feeling annoyed, restless or withdrawn
3. Feeling confused or disoriented 
4. Thinking about harming yourself or taking your life
5. Keeping to yourself more than usual 
6. Avoiding school, work or activities you previously enjoyed
7. Drinking or using other drugs excessively
8. Feeling like you’re not yourself 
9. Sometimes, you might not notice any major changes in yourself, even if you’re struggling.