Increase in mental illness symptoms among young people

The researchers found that self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress-related disorders were already on the rise before the Covid-19 pandemic, before its effects added to the increase.

The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, finds that mental ill-health has been rising fastest in deprived areas, contributing to widening inequalities and a growing gap between service provision and demand.

The study looked at data from 2009-2019, finding a 10% increase in common mental disorders (including anxiety, depression and stress) in young adults in the UK, based on health care records, and a 19% increase in psychological distress symptoms.

Dr Jen Dykxhoorn (UCL Psychiatry) said: “We found there’s been a clear increase in mental illness symptoms in children and young people in recent years. The increase in mental ill-health symptoms is outpacing the increase in recorded diagnoses, suggesting that mental health care services are not keeping up with the rise in demand. Increased mental illness diagnoses are not just the result of increased awareness and help-seeking behaviour.

“Concerningly, we also found signs of growing inequalities between sociodemographic groups. It’s vital that mental health care support is provided equitably and meets the growing need for it.”

The researchers analysed primary care data from 7.4 million young adults to assess increases in recorded diagnoses, as well as questionnaire data from 25,214 participants of the Understanding Society longitudinal cohort study, to assess trends in self-reported symptoms.

The researchers found that those living in the most deprived areas had the largest increases in psychological distress symptoms, but the smallest increases in diagnoses recorded, suggesting that mental health service provision is not always targeted at where there is the greatest burden of mental health problems, which may be exacerbating systemic inequalities.

The increase in recorded mental disorders was higher among young men (21% increase) compared to young women (7.7% increase), despite a similar increase in symptoms, perhaps reflecting a growing recognition of mental health concerns in males.

The researchers say that more research is needed into the causes of the increase in mental ill-health in young people, adding that there are likely multiple factors at play.

While the data analysed in this study only goes up to 2019, the researchers say that other evidence does point to a continued increase in diagnoses of mental illness in children and young people in the UK, which likely would also correspond to a continued increase in symptom prevalence.

The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research.

Links

• Research paper in BMJ Mental Health
• Dr Jennifer Dykxhoorn’s academic profile
• UCL Division of Psychiatry

Image

• Credit: Bulat Silvia on iStock

Media contact 

Chris Lane

tel: +44 20 7679 9222  / +44 (0) 7717 728648

E: chris.lane [at] ucl.ac.uk