According to a 2020 NHS report, 16% of children aged 5 to 16 years were identified as having a probable mental disorder, up from 10.8% in 2017.
The report also found the likelihood of developing a mental disorder increases with age and that young woman aged 17-22 were more likely to experience poor mental health (27%) than young men (13%).
Of those aged 17-22, 59% said the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures had made their lives worse.
In this whitepaper, we speak to a children’s mental health expert Dr Maria Loades, former teacher turned-researcher Dave McPartlan and parent to three teenage children Meg Fenn, to explore what they believe to be the main reasons for this crisis, its impact on a generation of young people, how to spot mental health struggles in teenagers, and the roles schools can play in better supporting children with mental health issues.
