#one in five
The need is rising
Today, one in five children and young people have a mental health condition, almost twice as many as in 2017i. Among teenagers and young adults, mental health problems now make up almost half of all illnessii. We don’t want to over-medicalise or label children, but clinical prevalence trends make it very clear that a sizeable number of children are not happy and healthy.
The cost is significant
This has a huge human and economic costiii. Thousands of young people are missing from school, not in work, and not thriving. Without early help, poor mental health in youth can shape a lifetime.
The system isn’t working
Too many young people wait too long for help. Many don’t look for, or get, help at all. A major barrier to progress is that the current system is not built to meet the scale of the challenge. Long waits and high thresholds for NHS help have become normalisediv. As a result, more young people than ever are struggling for a long time, or reaching crisis point.
Solutions exist but need scaling
There are very good alternative solutions outside of clinical settings, which young people often find more acceptable. We know that it is 100 times cheaper to treat a young person in the community than as an inpatientv.
Charities are doing vital work on the frontline, but are under intense pressure. There is growing knowledge about what works to prevent problems and support young people long before they reach crisis – but better evidence is needed so that promising solutions can be scaled with confidence.
The opportunity to invest in, and reform the system is now, so that all young people who need help can get it at the right time.
References
iMental Health of Children and Young People in England, NHS (2023) https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/2023-wave-4-follow-up
iiGrowing Up Well – Ambitions for the Future of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Support, Centre for Young Lives (2025) https://www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/growing-up-well-report
iiiFuture Minds: Why investing in children’s mental health will unlock economic growth (2025) https://cypmhc.org.uk/publications/future-minds-campaign/
ivChildren’s Commissioner for England – Over a quarter of a million children still waiting for mental health support (2024) https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs/over-a-quarter-of-a-million-children-still-waiting-for-mental-health-support/
vMind – Care Before Crisis (2025) https://www.mind.org.uk/media/b5kbsdyb/care-before-crisis-report-2025.pdf
I feel inspired to give a voice to other young people by sharing my experiences living with chronic mental ill health, and my own healing through creative pursuits.
