New research using Understanding Society has found that young adults living in the most deprived coastal areas of England are more likely to rate their mental health lower, and to live with an undiagnosed mental health condition, than those who lived in an equally deprived area inland.
The findings show that:
- in the top fifth of most deprived areas of England, young people who grew up in coastal areas reported average mental functioning scores 3.7 points lower than their peers inland
- young adults living in the most deprived coastal areas had three times the risk of experiencing undiagnosed mental distress compared to young adults from equally deprived inland areas.
The new paper builds on previous research which has shown that:
- in 2023, one in five children and young people in England had a probable mental health disorder – double the rate in 2010
- referrals to mental health services for this group rose by 50% between 2020 and 2023
- many of the highest suicide rates among young people are found in deprived coastal areas.
The authors of the new research have made a number of policy recommendations which aim to tackle the problems in deprived coastal communities. For the UK government as a whole, these include:
- reducing waiting times for mental health treatment and support in deprived coastal communities
- more spending on preventative mental health programmes for young people in these areas
- prioritising Young Future Hubs in deprived coastal communities with the highest mental health burden.
There are also suggestions for local government, such as:
- local targets to improve mental health for young people
- long-term investment to tackle the drivers of poor mental health – including money for education, employment, housing and public transport.
Read the research: Is it the place or the people in the places?
Read the policy briefing: Coastal Disadvantage and Youth Mental Health: Emerging Evidence from England
The research has been covered in The Guardian: Young people in England’s coastal towns three times more likely to have a mental health condition.
Find out more about the Centre for Coastal Communities
This research used data from the first 12 Waves of Understanding Society
Biomarkers, genetics and epigeneticsHealth and wellbeingYoung people
