This chart paints a concerning picture of the mental health landscape, much like we've seen with data for probable mental disorders and diagnoses (check out Chart 2 in this section for the details). Shockingly, in 2021, a whopping 44% of 16-17-year-olds (green line is data from 16-17 year olds) hit the high-level mental distress threshold and a year later that same cohort had the same rate of 44% (purple line is data from 17-18 year olds). For many there was no overall change in their scores from 2021 to 2022.

Interestingly, the pandemic didn't cause this spike; it merely poured fuel on an already burning fire of rising distress rates. When we link this with the surge in referrals and diagnoses (see Charts 2, 5, 6 and 7 in this section), and then consider the stagnation or even decline in the number of frontline professionals (Chart 8 in this section), it's like the perfect storm.

So here's some food for thought: A government enquiry concluded that ‘The single most important potential change to the system of support offered to young people who self-harm would be earlier intervention.’¹ Jess, a young person interviewed as part of the inquiry, put it brilliantly: ‘I wouldn't have cost the NHS so much if I was helped earlier. I was in a much better place when I presented than when I was admitted.’ It's a clear call to action for better support and timely intervention to prevent young people from spiralling into deeper mental health crises.