The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022 report, published by NHS Digital, showed that among 17 to 19 year olds, the proportion with a probable mental disorder increased.

The report published today, November 29, showed that 17 to 19 with probable mental health disorders increased from 17.4 percent in 2021 to 25.7 percent in 2022.

In 2017, 10.1 percent of 17 to 19 years olds had a probable mental disorder.

The rate increased to 17.7 percent in 2020 but remained stable between 2020 and 2021, at 17.4 percent and has increased to 25.7 percent in 2022.

This report explores the mental health of children and young people in England in 2022 and how this has changed from 2017, 2020 and 2021.

Views and experiences of family life, education, household circumstances, services and employment are examined as part of the report.

Among 7 to 16 year olds, the proportion with a probable mental disorder was 18.0 percent in 2022, up from 12.1 percent in 2017 but a similar rate to 2020 when it was 16.7 percent and 2021 when it was 17.8 percent.

In 2022, among those aged 7 to 10, prevalence of a probable mental disorder was nearly twice as high in boys (19.7 percent) as in girls (10.5 percent).

Rates of a probable mental disorder were similar in boys (18.8 percent) and girls (22.0 percent) aged 11 to 16.

Among 17 to 24 year olds, the prevalence was much higher in young women (31.2 percent) than young men (13.3 percent).

The findings draw on a sample of 2,866 children and young people who are now aged between 7 and 24 years old, while information was also provided by parents for children aged 7 to 16.

Children with a probable mental disorder were more likely than those without to live in a home experiencing financial strain with lack of food, warmth and loss of income all placing a strain of children’s mental health.

This publication is part of a series of follow up reports to the 2017 Mental Health of Children and Young People in England survey.

The survey, commissioned by NHS Digital, was caried out earlier this year by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), University of Cambridge and University of Exeter.