Factors that influence mental health in young people cont.
and are often the only deaf child in their class. This reduces the likelihood of having a deaf peer group or being part of Deaf culture. Additionally, British Sign Language (BSL) is a fully recognised UK language but is not always available in education (32). One of the most significant challenges faced by blind and partially sighted young people is social isolation. Challenges when joining social activities and participating in hobbies can cause loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression (33). Visit the Supporting a Deaf young person and Supporting a young person with a learning disability to learn how to adapt the Youth MHFA action plan. Family history Why can this be a risk factor? Most people living with a mental health condition do not have relatives with the same condition, but research does suggest that poor mental health can be intergenerational. This means it can affect several generations of the same family. What do we need to know? Those with a parent/carer who lives with a serious mental health condition have a one in three chance of developing a serious mental health condition themselves (34). Whilst poor mental health can be hereditary (passed down through genes), researchers haven’t found any specific genes that cause poor mental health. Poor mental health can also be intergenerational for different reasons. The ways of thinking, coping, and behaving that we may learn from our parent(s)/carer(s) can be a cause of poor mental health in ourselves (35).
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