Selective mutism makes me feel invisible, says Scarlett, 15

“It’s like you want to scream sometimes and say, ‘I’m here as well’.”

Scarlett, 15, has selective mutism, a severe anxiety disorder that leaves people unable to speak in certain situations.

“It’s really hard to live with,” she says. “You feel invisible.”

About one in 140 young people are affected, according to NHS estimates.

And Scarlett says it can leave her feeling lonely and isolated as not a lot of people know about the condition or how can it can affect people with the condition.

“I’m actually really chatty and not as quiet as people think,” she says.