Spotlight report: where do students aged 16+ go first for mental health advice?

Download (PDF 570.22 KB)

Summary of report content

Healthwatch Shropshire attended welcome week opportunities at Shrewsbury College in September 2025 to find out where young people go first to seek out mental health advice and support if they need it.  They spoke to 455 young people.

44% said they would ask family members first 

32% said they would go directly to their friends 

7% said they would check the internet / Chat GPT. Most students liked the confidential, no fuss element of consulting the internet.

Healthwatch found out that there are several options for young people to choose if they are worried about their mental health, but that they are not widely known about by the student community.

Would you like to look at:

General details

Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch Shropshire
Publication date
Date evidence capture began
Date evidence capture finished
Key themes
Lifestyle and wellbeing; wider determinants of health
Written information, guidance and publicity

Methodology and approach

Was the work undertaken in partnership with another organisation?
No
Primary research method used
Survey

Details of health and care services included in the report

Details of health and care services included in the report
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Targeted Mental Health in Schools Services (TaMHS)
Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) and specialist MH services

Details of people who shared their views

Number of people who shared their views
455
Age group
16 to 17 years
18 to 24 years
Did you find this attached report useful?
0
No votes have been submitted yet.