by A sharp increase in fear, depression and other disorders has led to one of four young people in England a common mental state of health, as an NHS survey shows that young women report them almost three times more often than young men.
The study showed that the rates of such conditions in 16- to 24-year-olds have increased by more than a third in a decade, from 18.9% in 2014 to 25.8% in 2024.
The results of the psychiatric morbidity survey for adults showed that reports on frequent mental illnesses – a term that also includes panic disorder, phobias and obsessive -compulsive disorders – in young women (36.1%) than young men (13.5%) almost three times as often.
Sally McManus, one of the leading researchers of the survey, said that the numbers reflect many global trends that affect young people disproportionately.
“Young people are concerned about many aspects of their lives, from uncertain employment and living space to covid and climate change. Young people may have been one of the groups whose mental health was most affected by Covid,” she said.
The study also resulted in a strong increase in general prevalence of mental illnesses, thoughts of suicide and self -harm between age groups:
-
More than a fifth (22.6%) of adults aged 16 to 64 have a common mental health, compared to 18.9% in 2014.
-
More than one of four adults (25.2%) stated that they had suicidal thoughts during his life, including about a third of 16 to 24 year olds (31.5%) and 25 to 34 year olds (32.9%).
-
The self -harm rates have quadrupled since 2000 and rose from 6.4% in 2014 to 10.3% in 2024, with the highest rates of 16 to 24 year olds in 24.6%, especially young women with 31.7%, the highest rates.
McManus said: “This upward trend is quite clear across the board. It is only that we see the highest prices by far [of self-harm and suicidal ideation] In young women. “
There was no evidence that the mental illness had to be superior, she added. “I do not see this as checking or over -reporting, although there is greater awareness and less stigma. There is no evidence from our data to display over -reporting, but in the past it may have been accommodated.”
As the study also shows, more people with a mental illness are treated that almost half (47%) of 16- to 74-year-olds with frequent psychological health problems with therapy or medication against anxiety, depression, panic disorders, phobias or obsessive disorders before previous surveys. But most people who experience gambling damage have never received a gaming -specific treatment or support, according to the survey. Overall, more than half of the people with common mental illnesses do not receive the help they need, experts said.
Marjorie Wallace, the managing director of the charity organization Sane, said: “This report reveals the enormous necessity that already looks in a collapse, especially the services that are available to young people.”
Dr. Sarah Hughes, the managing director of Mind, said: “The mental health of the nation is deteriorated and our current system is overwhelmed, underfunded and unequal for the challenge. After the trauma of pandemic, the inconsiderable costs of the living crises, and the trauma of pandemic, the unexpected costs of the living crisis and stubborn racial accusations that were no longer possible that the mental health was no longer has.
Claire Murdoch, a national director of mental health from NHS England, said: “Not only can people affect people’s personal life, but can also have an enormous influence on employment and physical health. I am pleased that the expansion and digital transformation of our services support more people, with services such as NHS conversations with therapy.
“We know that more needs to be done to increase access to care, and we are working closely with the government on the upcoming 10-year health plan to create better psychiatric services for patients and to achieve more people in the context of the broader social change that we have to see in combating mental health.”
Dr. Lade Smith, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrist, said: “Now we need urgent and persistent investments in the workforce and infrastructure for mental health. The increasing demand is clear. We have to correspond to a system that takes over the necessary resources for reaction with compassion, speed and fairness.”
