Furthermore, mental health issues are subsumed under other problem types including eating behaviours, child abuse, family breakdown and suicide. The graph below shows the nature of mental health calls. Analysis of this severity data indicates no significant differences between males and females. However the severity of mental health problems increase significantly with age. Although discussing symptoms and behaviours is the most common type of call from all age groups, younger callers are more likely to be seeking information or discussing concern about a significant other.
Qualitative analysis reveals further age differences in the nature of mental health concerns.
Less common concerns include hearing voices, psychosis and self-harming behaviours. She has not asked for help before, despite feeling this way for years. He can t identify any particular issue at school which is worrying him. Mental health concerns of callers aged between 15 and 18 differ from those in the younger age groups. Their major concerns include depression, self-harming behaviours, suicidal ideation and anxiety.