A NEW survey revealed 25 per cent of children in Swindon are unhappy with their mental health.

This comes after Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza polled more than half a million school pupils across the country for her Big Ask survey between April and May.

A total of 1,485 children in Swindon aged between nine and 17 responded to a question on their mental health - with 25 per cent saying they were unhappy with it.

Here’s what you told us on Facebook...

Mihai Tantau: "Nothing to do around the town, everything is closing down, no venues for youngsters, no nothing. So what would you expect?!"

Lowrie Chellem: "Absolutely no surprise there.

"Local MPs, local council and the Swindon public show a lot of dislike of young people. And they certainly don't go out of their way to make life better or help them.

"Schools are under pressure to focus on the academic and forget about the social and emotional experience of being at school.

"No youth clubs in the town....recreational facilities being shut down in the blink of an eye....gangs being given an open door to take advantage of them....

"Being a young person in Swindon is boring, solitary, uninspiring and quite dangerous really."

Adrian Thrush: "I don't suppose it's different anywhere else, any youngster with genuine issues I really feel for and totally understand how it feels but and it's a big but , too many young people today expect everything to be handed to them on a plate without any effort from themselves and if things don't go their way this sort of thing happens!"

Heather Ware: "There needs to be more activities and groups for youngsters to join.

"Also encouragement from parents to get children out & about in fresh air instead of sitting in front of gadgets all day.

"We have plenty of parks in Swindon. Surprising what fresh air can do and doesn't cost anything.

"Easy to blame council, government etc but surely help starts at home?"

Paul Wildego: "Well there should be youth centres for them to go and people to help them this town has failed its people with lies, the town is falling down and nobody cares about what happens to it, I've been here nearly 20 years and I can't stand Swindon.

"More really should be done to help our children."

Kelly Tobin: "Not enough help , regardless of what anyone says!"

Rob Owen: "There used to be a lot of good youth workers in Swindon but year on year budget cuts decimated the youth services."

Maria Day: "There is not enough help to support these youngsters.

"And like others have said there is nothing really for them to do."

Hayley Shevonne: "It really is no surprise.

"As others have stated, the town just isn't geared towards caring for or about teenagers and young adults.

"This is why I work with older youths in two local youth groups in Toothill.

"Both are fantastic places for socialising, getting off the street, a safe space to talk and at one we even provide a meal.

"The teens that attend those groups get so much out of coming each week.

"It would be great to see more things like this across the town."