Rising depression rates in young adults in the UK
What is going on with the mental health of young people? At first glance, depression in young adults statistics in the UK are indeed a sobering read. But why are so many young people experiencing depression, what signs can we all look out for and how do we research different ways to cope?
A report, published at the end of last year by NHS England, found that 20% of youngsters aged 8-16 had a probable mental disorder in 2023. The figure is similar across the whole, wider 8-25 age-group though.
Mental health and young people
The report highlighted some of the factors that impact the mental health of children and young adults, including financial problems at home, being bullied (in person or online), climate change concerns and difficult future financial prospects.
The figures for eating disorders show a particularly steep increase in the last 7 years, most notably for ages 17 to 19 with one in every 8 identified as having an eating disorder, with women 4 times as likely to suffer than men.
Even allowing for the small sample sizes in any research like this and a degree of subjectivity in the way questions are worded, posed and answered, there is a compelling story here.
Symptoms of depression
Common warning signs include sudden mood and behaviour changes, self-harming, unexplained physical changes, such as weight loss or gain, sudden poor academic behaviour or performance, sleeping problems and changes in social habits, such as withdrawal or avoidance of friends and family.
How to cope with depression
Knowing how to deal with depression can be helpful step in feeling better. Talking to friends and family and seeking self-care tips and access to support are always important. Although waiting times for NHS resources such as talking therapies (TTAD) can be significant in England, these are well worth investigating as two-thirds of people experience improvements after using them. Start with your GP who can refer you – or your child – to specialist help and support.
Finally, remember you are not alone, when thinking about how to deal with depression, that there is a lot of support available outside the NHS.
Treacle.me includes links to all the brilliant mental health support groups such as Mind and Childline plus hundreds of other local and national groups offering free support for young people, many of which you simply won’t be aware of. Treacle.me is free to use, has no annoying ads and never asks for your data or anything about you.
Take care out there.
Helen