Increasing numbers of vulnerable young women across Perth and Kinross are seeking help to combat the pressures that can lead to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
It has emerged that referrals and self-referrals are now being made on an almost daily basis to projects like the region’s Young People’s Health Team (YPCP).
The team has found that young women in particular are struggling to cope with issues such as self-esteem, confidence and body image. The rise of social networking sites has put today’s children and teenagers at greater risk of bullying and body image worries than any previous generation.
Social media has led to a culture where every aspect of young people’s lives can be scrutinised, commented on, shared and ridiculed and humiliation in front of thousands can follow the click of a mobile phone camera.
That has made the support of projects such as the YPCP part of the Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership increasingly vital.
It has launched its Accept and Respect programme to support a group of girls from all backgrounds through a 12-week programme of self-development.
Murdo Fraser MSP said: “Young people today face pressures that those in generations before never had. The digital age brings with it different burdens and stresses, and local authorities and children’s services must be quick to adapt to these changes.
“The YPCP’s Accept and Respect pilot scheme has been very successful. I hope that the authorities can look into the possibility of extending it.”
The extent of the problem in Perth and Kinross was made clear at the latest meeting of the Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership, part of NHS Tayside.
The YPCP scheme was praised at the meeting for its work in the wake of the region’s wide-ranging, if controversial, Evidence2Success survey.
The survey looked at all aspects of children and young people’s lives, questioning pupils on everything from relationships and their sense of self-worth to drugs, sex and alcohol. It found that within the school population, 8% of all 11 to 15-year-olds both male and female reported emotional well-being concerns.
Related research undertaken with 800 parents of children aged up to eight years old found that 15% had reported emotional wellbeing concerns.
In an effort to address such issues, young women were invited to volunteer to take part in a 12-week pilot scheme, funded by Soroptimist International.
Participants learned about team building and conflict resolution and were offered advice and support to boost their confidence.
It has proved hugely successful and could be extended, both within Perth and Kinross and elsewhere.
Roseanna Cunningham MSP said: “There is absolutely no doubt that modern forms of communication and social media can make our lives better and easier in many ways but they bring with them their own problems and challenges.
“The support being offered to young women locally by this trailblazing project is very important indeed.”
Despite the concerns, there has been a decrease locally in the number of incidents of self-harm, from 101 in 2012/13 to 76 in 2013/14.