This week, NHS Digital released findings from its latest survey looking at the mental health of children and young people in England. This is the third survey of its kind since 2017 and shows a dramatic rise in the number of young people - particularly those aged 17-19 - struggling with their mental health.
You can find out more about what they found in this survey.
Olly Parker, Head of External affairs at YoungMinds responded to the figures:
These figures demonstrate the unprecedented crisis happening in young people's mental health, with one in four young people aged 17-19 now having a probable mental health problem – a staggering rise from one in ten, five years ago.
It is also deeply worrying that three quarters of young women in this age range have a possible eating disorder. We know young women in particular face a wide range of pressures that can affect their mental health, including concerns about body image often exacerbated by social media.
Month on month we see the crisis for young people continue to deepen, with referrals for treatment reaching record breaking highs and thousands of young people facing an agonising wait for help.
Politicians have promised to end the crisis in young people’s mental health but the reality is that with every month of inaction, things are getting worse. The Government must deliver on its promise of a ten-year Mental Health Plan which includes the changes that tens of thousands of young people have already called for – a national network of early support hubs in every community, so young people can access help for their mental health when they first start to struggle without having to wait for an appointment or referral, as well as better support in schools, and NHS services that meet demand.
We're campaigning for the Government to #EndTheWait and deliver a ten-year mental health plan that includes the changes that tens of thousands of young people have already called for - early support hubs, better support in schools, and NHS services that meet demand.
