- Experts have warned that young people face a lack of hope that their lives will be better than their parents for the first time since the Second World War, driving a surge in mental ill-health.
- A review chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy found around four million UK children are in serious distress, a figure that could rise to 4.5 million by 2030 without urgent action.
- The proportion of young people meeting the criteria for common mental health disorders rose from one in six in 1993 to one in four by 2024, alongside sharp increases in self-harm and eating disorders.
- Researchers highlighted high rates of co-occurrence, finding that 57 per cent of 16-to-24-year-olds with common mental health conditions also displayed traits of ADHD and 61 per cent showed autism traits.
- Mental health leaders and academics called for early support and systemic action to address contributing factors such as financial uncertainty, social media, and cuts to youth services.
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