WITH so much to enjoy and look forward to in life, it seems very sad that many young people are suffering from mental health issues and stress.

But according to a ChildLine review, Under Pressure, there was a 34 per cent increase in 2013/14 in counselling children and young people for mental health issues such as depression, panic attacks, bipolar, hallucinations and delusions.

Two-thirds of counselling sessions carried out by the national helpline relate to self-harm, suicidal feelings, low self-esteem and general unhappiness.

School and education problems appeared in the top 10 issues for the first time; an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. School pressures and mental health concerns are closely linked with young people not wanting to disappoint their parents, confessing fear of failure and finding it hard to tackle the pressures linked to academic achievement. Exam stress saw a 200 per cent rise on the previous year.

Family conflict also fuelled the growing number of mental health related contacts. Young people spoke to ChildLine about issues affecting them at home such as divorce, separation and relationships and in almost 81,000 counselling sessions.

There was also an 87 per cent increase in sessions regarding online bullying with children saying that the 24/7 nature of the digital world gives them no means to escape.

On a more positive note, the internet has also provided more opportunities for young people to access help with 68 per cent of ChildLine counselling sessions taking place online via email and 1-2-1 online chat. Traffic to the ChildLine website also rose by 29 per cent with over three million hits.

Adam Woodhouse, senior youth worker with The Edge, a young people's project on Bradford's Holme Wood Estate, says: "I think young people have a lot more pressure on them these days. There is a huge pressure on schools to get exam results up so there is a lot of pressure on young people to perform well academically."

Adam says there is also pressure on young people within the family, certainly within single parent families and also for young carers.

"I think everyone knows as well that the recession is still hitting. People are losing their jobs, families are having to cope as best they can."

Adam also talks about the pressures young people are under academically. "You are always told you go to school, go to college and after sixth form go to university and get a job, but even though it is really hard to get into university because of the fees, and even if you did get into university just to get a job in the end is even harder. In my generation at least you were fairly likely to get a job after university."

Tina Bould, senior supervisor for ChildLine covering Leeds, including Bradford, and Nottingham, says the findings are 'shocking.'

"It is shocking we have had a 34 per cent increase in young people contacting us with mental health issues. It is closely linked with other problems such as school, education and pressures in the family home," she says.

Her advice to young people is to talk to somebody they know or, if there isn't anyone they feel they can confide in, they should contact ChildLine.

"Confide in someone, speak to someone who can understand and listen. We can talk about the issues and support them with what is going on in their lives at the moment," says Tina.

Dame Esther Rantzen, ChildLine founder, says: "It is clear that a cluster of problems, such as unhappiness in the family home, the increase in self-harm and eating disorders, the unrelenting intrusion of cyber bullying and the pressures at school are having a damaging effect on our children's mental wellbeing. We have seen a huge rise in the number of children suffering from mental health issues, leading to such serious problems as depression, self-harm and most devastatingly, suicidal thoughts.

"We must not only understand how to encourage young people to speak about their unhappiness, and treat these conditions more effectively, but also face up to the reality that far too many of the nation's children seem to be struggling alone and in despair."

Dame Esther says it is crucial that counselling is available for children who need it. "And that those who work with young people are alert to the symptoms of depression and isolation. It is all of our responsibility to ensure children can talk about issues and we must all look out for signs that they're not able to cope."

* ChildLine is a free 24/7 confidential helpline for children and young people. For more information call 0800 1111 or visit ChildLine.org.uk.