Around a quarter of older children in York say they have self-harmed within the past year.
About the same number have been bullied, and 71 per cent said they had received messages from strangers online.
These are some of the findings of a City of York Council survey as it drew up a new youth strategy.
They talked to secondary school and sixth form pupils in York. The survey also found:
- 46 per cent of those who reported self-harming said they had never asked anyone for help
- The leading worry among the students was their appearance, and what might happen to them later in life
- About a quarter of those surveyed said they were bullied because of how they look, with a fifth of those who were saying no one helped them
- 71 per cent said they had received messages from people they did not know online
- Around a quarter said they had been asked to do something they did not want to do online
- 16 per cent of young people had gambled in the last year
- A quarter said they were vaping or had used e-cigarettes.
- One in four of those who did admitted to taking money from their parents without permission to spend on gambling
- 86 per cent of that age group felt they had someone to talk to about their problems
- 66 per cent agreed their local area was a good place to grow up.
There were 1.7 conceptions per 1,000 York girls aged between 13 and 15.
Many challenges
Council public health lead Peter Roderick said the survey illustrated young people’s challenges.
It follows the council’s adoption of its strategy, dubbed ‘Young People Belong in York’, which is backed by £40,000-a-year over three years in local authority funding.
Adopted late last year the strategy is aimed at the 34,612 children and young people in York, of which 14,673 are aged between 11 and 17.
It aims to help youth and community organisations and others provide young people with safe places to be with their friends, a range of activities and support.
York’s Youth Council, which helped draw up strategy up, told officials young people could sometimes feel marginalised and they wanted help with inclusion and belonging.
For example, youngsters felt the city’s transport system was designed more to help people commute to work than it was to connect communities.
Young people also reported that they felt there was stigma towards them in York.
Mr Roderick said the survey provided an important snapshot of life for young people locally, but it was important to look beyond the data.
He said: “The survey illustrates the challenges faced by young people in York, challenges which reflect broader national trends in the health of our population, which is declining in some areas, such as mental health.
“The city’s ambitious youth strategy, aims to ensure young people in York are supported in safe places, by people with the right skills, to help them navigate what can be a challenging phase of life for many.
“In particular, we hope that the newly formed Local Youth Partnership, will bring together a wide range of organisations working with young people across the city to maximise resources and support for all.”