THE spotlight is on mental health at the moment, with people trying to me more understanding of issues being faced by others.

There are also calls for extra studies, money and help for those facing particular difficulty and struggling to cope.

Like other illnesses, it affects people of all ages, genders and backgrounds.

As the health service and other agencies try to work together to tackle the issue more effectively than at present, there are concerns that young people are also suffering ­— and it may be going unnoticed.

Loneliness, something that is usually associated with older people, has become a major issue for young people.

Research has found that one in four people aged 18 to 30 suffer from loneliness and it is currently the voluntary sector that tries to make a difference.

One of the biggest causes for concern is social media.

While it can be a source of information and somewhere to escape to, it is also somewhere people need to escape from.

While there are more ways to communicate than ever before, this can make people feel even more isolated and vulnerable.

Mental health issues need to be addresses as soon as possible but it can be much more difficult for young people to express how they are feeling.

The more they bottle things up, the worse they will be in the long run and it is a vicious cycle if they feel they are on their own.