A mental health charity has highlighted the need to support vulnerable north-east youngsters as more children turn to its services.
Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA) has urged young people not to struggle alone as Children’s Mental Health Week kicks off.
In recent years, it has experienced a growing number of youngsters in need of its ACIS Youth service, established in 2009, and this demand is expected to continue into the future.
ACIS has just assessed it’s 1000 child since starting in 2009.
Alan McTamney, ACIS Youth manager said that seeking help could be a “huge hurdle” for youngsters.
He added: “Young people understandably often find it very difficult to reach out and ask for help and in some instances are unsure of where to turn.
“We want to highlight how we can help and raise awareness of our ACIS Youth service, which is committed to offering an inclusive and responsive service to our young clients.”
In the past financial year, MHA has helped nearly 300 north-east children.
Over and above this, the charity has also assessed over 200 children in school-based settings over the past few years.
Based in Aberdeen, MHA also has centres in Aboyne, Banff, Ellon, Peterhead and Inverurie and provides free counselling for children from primary school age right up to those aged 18.
Services can be accessed directly through the charity’s offices or by requests from parents, social workers, teachers, GPs, youth services and other agencies, provided the young person has given consent.
Although it is currently operating a waiting list, ACIS Youth is fulfilling more than 100 appointments each week, with each child offered up to 12 sessions.
Mr McTamney sad: “We can give children the tools and skills to deal with the difficulties they face in life and help them look towards a brighter future.
“The first step towards achieving that is to ask us for help.”