A Shropshire youth charity has called for greater investment in preventative services after the head of a major national review said the rise in mental distress among young people was real.

Richard Parkes, chief executive of All About Youth, said the findings reinforced the importance of giving young people access to trusted adults, safe spaces and positive opportunities before problems reach crisis point.

But he warned that increasing financial pressures were making it more challenging for organisations providing preventative youth services to maintain and develop that support.

Earlier this year, more than 50 pledges of support were made to All About Youth by businesses and organisations at the charity’s ‘Breakfast with the Best’ event in Shrewsbury. Richard said that response had been hugely encouraging, but further support was needed.

He said: “We had a fantastic response from the business community earlier this year, with more than 50 pledges of support, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has stepped forward.

“But the financial pressures facing organisations like ours haven’t gone away. If anything, the need for high-quality youth work is becoming greater at the same time as the cost of delivering it continues to increase.

“We are asking businesses, organisations and individuals who believe in that work to support us. Whether that’s through a donation, volunteering, sharing expertise or making a pledge, there are lots of ways to make a practical difference.”

Anyone wishing to donate to All About Youth or pledge their support can find out more on the charity’s website at www.allaboutyouth.org.uk.

Richard’s comments follow a BBC interview with Professor Peter Fonagy, who is leading an independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism services in England.

Professor Fonagy said young people should not be dismissed as a “snowflake generation”, with evidence showing a genuine increase in mental distress.

He highlighted anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders among the most common problems and said economic and employment uncertainty, combined with the challenges of social media, had made it harder to be young today.

Richard said: “There can sometimes be a tendency to look at the pressures facing young people today and assume they are simply less resilient than previous generations.

“We know from speaking to young people on a daily basis that the picture is much more complex than that - and this review confirms it.

“Young people today are growing up in a very different world. They are dealing with pressures around their future, employment, finances and education alongside an online environment which is present in their lives almost constantly.

“We see first-hand how important it is for young people to have somewhere they can go, people they trust and opportunities to spend time with others face-to-face.

“Youth workers are not mental health professionals and youth work should never be seen as a substitute for specialist support when it is needed. But it can play an enormously important preventative role.

“If we are serious about improving young people’s wellbeing, we have to invest much earlier. Waiting until someone reaches crisis point is not good enough for young people and ultimately places even greater pressure on specialist services.

“Investment in high-quality youth work is an investment in prevention. It won’t solve the mental health crisis on its own, but it has an important part to play in helping young people feel connected, supported and hopeful about their future.”

All About Youth is the first and only youth organisation in the Midlands to achieve the National Youth Agency Quality Mark.

The charity delivers youth work across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, working with young people through youth clubs, schools, targeted programmes and community projects.

For more information, visit www.allaboutyouth.org.uk