The prevalence of mental health issues among our youth is increasing. Some of the common issues that young people face include bullying, worry or anxiety, relationship problems and body issues. Social and emotional learning is integral to the overall development of children, highlighting the importance of youth mental health in building resilience and helping them to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives as adults.

Despite the range of factors known to influence mental health, evidence for effective interventions for children and youth is lacking, which is why this is a paramount focus for Breakthrough.

The research that we fund intends to inform future intervention development to support the mental health of our youth. By engaging and listening to the experiences of young people, our approach means that the identified research priorities are more likely to be relevant to young people’s needs.