Glossary “A lot of adults seem to be scared of saying the actual words like ‘anxiety’, ‘depression’, and giving feelings a name, but if you don’t use or explain the proper words it can come across as patronising and belittle how you are feeling.” Emily, 15 years old You will find the following terms used throughout this manual in relation to young people and mental health. Young people Young people, Youth It should be stated that there is no universally agreed international definition of the term ‘youth.’ The United Nations defines a youth as a person roughly between the ages of 15–24 years old (4). This is reflected in recent mental health research in England. For the purposes of this manual, the aims of Youth MHFA course, and its associated materials we define ‘young people’ broadly as those aged 8–18 years old. Adolescent(s) According to the World Health Organization an adolescent is a person in the phase of life between childhood and adulthood — roughly between the ages 10–19 years old (5). We also use this definition throughout this manual, the Youth MHFA course, and its associated materials. We also refer to an adolescent in the mid to later stages as a ‘teenager’ at times. Pre-adolescent(s) Pre-adolescents – those in middle-childhood preceding the onset of puberty – are commonly defined as those aged 8–12 years old. Stages of adolescence can occur before the age of 12 years old (6),
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