The report from Natcen linked data from the National Pupil Database to Understanding Society’s youth survey (10-15 year olds).
The data from the survey revealed a slight increase over time in the prevalence of mental health disorders in children aged 5 to 15, rising from 9.7% in 1999 and 10.1% in 2004 to 11.2% in 2017. There have been increases for both sexes over that time.
Emotional disorders such as (including anxiety, depressive disorders, and mania and bipolar affective disorder) have become more common over time – going from 4.3% in 1999 and 3.9% in 2004 to 5.8% in 2017 for the 5 to 15 age group.
How can mental health problems affect children over time?
- Young people at Key Stage 3 with poor mental health scores were 2.7 times more likely not to achieve the GCSE benchmark of 5 GCSE passes at A*-C grades (with English and Maths), even when accounting for other factors. A “one point” increase in a young person’s SDQ score at Key Stage 3 resulted in the equivalent of a dropping of one grade at GCSE.
- The data also showed that those aged 11 to 19 with a mental health disorder spent more time on social media and were more likely to have been subjected to cyber-bullying.
- Those aged 11 to 16 with a mental health disorder were also more likely to have taken illicit drugs, to drink alcohol and have tried a cigarette.
For more information, please read the full report
Health and wellbeingYoung people
