A new report from NHS Digital, ‘Mental Health of Children and Young People 2020’ found there has been a significant increase in the numbers of children and young people with a probable mental health disorder, rising from one in nine children in 2017 to one in six this year. The report highlighted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown, sleep problems and family debt and child poverty on young people’s mental health.

The research also found that children with a probable mental health disorder were less likely to have received support from their school or college during the April-July school term compared to children unlikely to have mental health needs. Over half of children and young people with a probable mental health disorder felt that lockdown had made their life worse, significantly more than children and young people unlikely to have a mental health disorder. To read the report, click here.