The Health Foundation blog - Context matters: what’s needed for young people’s mental health? (9 May 2022)

Summary

Recent analysis shows that recognisable mental health issues are increasing amongst young people, with referrals to children and young people's mental health services increasing by 81% in April to September 2021, compared to the same period in 2019. In this blog, Martina Kane, Policy and Engagement Manager at The Health Foundation, looks at the contextual factors that influence young people's mental health, arguing that these are often overlooked in the way mental health issues are treated.

She looks at factors such as parental unemployment, the energy crisis and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education, and argues that these must be taken into account when designing mental health services for children and young people. She highlights that while young people benefit personally from good mental health, it is also an asset for society and the economy that must be invested in by the government.