The research shows that prevalence in 2023 has increased slightly when compared to 2022 (20.3% compared to 18%), but is notably higher than in 2017 when 12.1% of 7 to 16-year-olds were judged to have probable mental health conditions.
Breaking down secondary and primary age groups, the figures shows that 22.6% of 11 to 16-year-olds are considered to have a probable mental health condition compared to 15.7% of 8, 9 and 10-year-olds.
At ages 17 to 19, 23.3% have a probable mental health condition. This is down from 25.7% in 2022 but still notably higher than in 2017 (10.1%).
The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 report has been published this week by NHS England. The annual study first began in 2017 and this year’s iteration involved responses from 2,370 children and young people who also took part in the 2017 research.
It uses the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire which assesses different aspects of mental health including problems with emotions, behaviour, relationships, hyperactivity, and concentration. It then concludes whether the young person has a possible or probable mental health disorder or is unlikely to have one.
The study comes as NHS England has rolled out 398 Mental Health Support Teams within schools and colleges to provide early support to young people with mild to moderate mental health issues.
This support now covers an estimated 35% of students and a further 200 teams are currently in training and due to be operational by spring 2025. This will expand coverage to 50% of students. However, critics have said that the roll-out is still taking far too long.
However, the NHS research found that around 80% of 11 to 16-year-olds were positive about their access to mental health support at school, stating that they knew how to get to support; around 60% said they felt comfortable talking to adults about their mental health while 65% said the support at their school was “helpful”.
As ever, the research looks at pupils’ experiences across a number of specific issues:
- Eating disorders: The 2023 research raises specific concerns about the prevalence of eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders were identified in 12.5% of 17 to 19-year-olds and 2.6% of 11 to 16-year-olds this year. Rates were four times higher in girls across both age categories and are higher than in 2017.
- Self-harm: The report warns that 30.4% of children aged 8 to 16 with a probable mental health disorder had ever tried to harm themselves, including 5.9% who had done so within the past four weeks. These figures for young people (aged 17 to 24) rise to 36.8% and 4.8% respectively.
- Climate change: For the first time, the research asked the older cohorts about their concerns with regards to the impact of climate change. It found that 54.8% of 17 to 25-year-olds said they were worried about it.
- Poverty: The survey highlights a link between mental health and disadvantage. Among 8 to 16-year-olds 26.8% of those with a probable mental disorder had a parent who could not afford for their child to take part in activities outside school or college, compared with 10.3% of those unlikely to have a mental health disorder. Among 17 to 25-year-olds, those with a probable mental health disorder were three times more likely not to be able to afford to take part in activities such as sports or socialising.
- Loneliness: Of those respondents aged 11 to 16, 5.5% said they were often or always lonely – this figure rises to 16.6% among those with a probable mental health condition. At age 17 to 24, 12% say they are often or always lonely, rising to 29.5% among those with a probable mental health condition.
- Sleep: In 2023, 37.8% of children aged 8 to 16 had a problem with sleep three or more times over the previous week. Of those with a probable mental health disorder, this rises to 76.5%. At age 17 to 23, these figures shoot up to 64.9% and 91.4% respectively.
- Attendance: In the autumn term of 2022, 3.8% of children aged 8 to 16 missed more than 15 days of school. However, children with a probable mental health disorder were seven times more likely to have missed more than 15 days of school (11.2% compared with 1.5%).
NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch said the research shows the “continued unprecedented pressures” faced by young people and “reflects the increased demand for NHS children’s mental health services”.
She continued: “The NHS is providing support for more children and young people than ever before – we have already supported over 700,000 children and young people with their mental health this year and seen a 47% increase in young people being treated for eating disorders compared to pre-pandemic.
“NHS staff are working harder than ever to meet the increased demand and we have fast-tracked mental health support for millions of pupils in schools and colleges, as well as significantly expanding the children’s mental health workforce. Our partners, especially in the education, voluntary and social care sectors, also have a critical role to play in supporting this effort.
“It is vital that any child or young person struggling, or their family, reaches out for help so they can get the care they need.”
Commenting on the statistics, Laura Bunt, chief executive at mental health charity YoungMinds, said: “The data confirms that the crisis in young people’s mental health is deepening, and the government is not taking enough action on what is now an emergency.
“It is worrying that young people aged 8 to 16 with a probable mental health condition is the highest on record. We also know, for the first time, that 78% of young women aged 17 to 19 have possible eating problems.
“We know that more young people than ever have been referred to mental health services and that too many are reaching crisis and facing agonising waiting times. Year-on-year, this data gets worse but instead of action, young people get broken promises in the form of scrapped plans and missed opportunities.
“We need the government to turn the tide on this emergency – they must commit to reducing prevalence and tackle the reasons why so many young people are struggling with their mental health. Right now, they can make a difference by making sure every community has an early support hub so that young people can get help as soon as they need it. Beyond that, we need an ambitious plan that matches the scale of need focusing on prevention, investment and improving services."
The survey was carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), University of Cambridge and University of Exeter.
- Newlove-Delgado et al: NHS: Mental health of children and young people in England, 2023: Wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey, NHS England, November 2023: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/2023-wave-4-follow-up