- Rates of mental health conditions among young women and girls aged 17 to 25 are double those of their male counterparts, with overall child mental health conditions rising from one in nine in 2017 to one in five currently.
- Experts attribute this significant disparity, particularly the 'rocketing trajectory' of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in girls, to gendered violence, with 88 per cent of adults expressing concern about violence against women and girls.
- Concerns are heightened by the influence of misogynistic and harmful online content on pupils, as reported by 56 per cent of educators in a National Education Union survey.
- Recommendations for addressing the crisis include urging children to reduce phone and social media use, compelling tech companies to create safer online environments, and increasing investment in youth spaces and early mental health intervention.
- The current system is failing young people, with over half a million children on mental health support waiting lists, leading many to seek help from AI due to long waits for professional medical assistance.
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