Almost a third of 13-year-olds are 'at risk' of depressive symptoms, according to the CSO's Growing Up in Ireland study.

It's tracking the progress of a group of young people born in 2008 - with a big increase in mental health difficulties compared to a similar study of people born in 1998.

Thirteen-year-old girls are at a much higher risk of depressive symptoms, at 45%, compared to 19% of boys.

Outlets

Michael McLoughlin from Youth Work Ireland said it's important young people have outlets, like sports.

“It's not all about sports either, there's also people of alternative lifestyles, people of music and culture, and that's something in youth work we try and offer too,” he said.

“So, suppose the message is to try and reach out to these groups as much as possible, whatever it is that they're into, whatever it is they like, reach out to them and then develop the relationship there.

“Then you can bring in these topics, maybe later on in that relationship, but that's what we find works.”

Main image: File photo shows a stressed teenager. Picture by: Aleksandr Davydov / Alamy Stock Photo