by Sam Baker, reporter

Shocking statistics have revealed that a third of all 15-18-year-olds are suffering with at least one type of mental health issue. 

Research from Action for Children highlighted the damning statistics after sampling 5,000 young people. 

The most common kinds of issue uncovered were depression, anxiety and struggling to sleep. 

Rachel Ella Thomas, who volunteered with the charity Time to Change, explained that when she was a teenager, her help was simply cut off. 

She described how upon her 18th birthday her counselling was stopped and she was instead placed on a waiting list. 

Over five years later, she is still waiting to be seen. 

Julie Bentley from Action for Children explained how getting help early is key to stopping mental health problems. 

“If they don’t get the help they need early we will see even higher levels of mental health problems as they reach adulthood.”