Mental health and well-being trends among children and young people in the UK, 1995-2014: analysis of repeated cross-sectional national health surveys.

Jacqueline Pitchforth,Tamsin Ford,Russell M Viner,Katie Fahy,Dougal S Hargreaves,Miranda Wolpert

doi:10.1017/s0033291718001757

Abstract

There is a growing concern about the mental health of children and young people (CYP) in the UK, with increasing demand for counselling services, admissions for self-harm and referrals to mental health services. We investigated whether there have been similar recent trends in selected mental health outcomes among CYP in national health surveys from England, Scotland and Wales. Data were analysed from 140 830 participants (4-24 years, stratified into 4-12, 13-15, 16-24 years) in 36 national surveys in England, Scotland and Wales, 1995-2014. Regression models were used to examine time trends in seven parent/self-reported variables: general health, any long-standing health condition, long-standing mental health condition; Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Score (WEMWBS), above-threshold Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Total (SDQT) score, SDQ Emotion (SDQE) score, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) score. Across all participants aged 4-24, long-standing mental health conditions increased in England (0.8-4.8% over 19 years), Scotland (2.3-6.0%, 11 years) and Wales (2.6-4.1%, 7 years) (all p < 0.001). Among young children (4-12 years), the proportion reporting high SDQT and SDQE scores decreased significantly among both boys and girls in England [SDQE: odds ratio (OR) 0.97 (0.96-0.98), p < 0.001] and girls in Scotland [SDQE: OR 0.96 (0.93-0.99), p = 0.005]. The proportion with high SDQE scores (13-15 years) decreased in England [OR 0.98 (0.96-0.99), p = 0.006] but increased in Wales [OR 1.07 (1.03-1.10), p < 0.001]. The proportion with high GHQ scores decreased among English women (16-24 years) [OR 0.98 (0.98-0.99), p = 0.002]. Despite a striking increase in the reported prevalence of long-standing mental health conditions among UK CYP, there was relatively little change in questionnaire scores reflecting psychological distress and emotional well-being.

Highlights

There has been a growing global concern about the mental health and well-being of children and young people (CYP) (0–24 years)
Our study found a striking increase in the reported prevalence of long-standing mental health conditions since 1995
With the exception of 4–12 years old in Scotland, we found no significant difference in trends between males and females for any country or age group

Summary

Introduction

There has been a growing global concern about the mental health and well-being of children and young people (CYP) (0–24 years). In the UK, demand for counselling services, hospital admissions for self-harm and referrals to specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) have all increased significantly for this age group in recent years (Hagell et al, 2015; National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 2016; Page, 2016; Yeung et al, 2016). Among young children (4–12 years), the proportion reporting high SDQT and SDQE scores decreased significantly among both boys and girls in England [SDQE: odds ratio (OR) 0.97 (0.96–0.98), p < 0.001] and girls in Scotland [SDQE: OR 0.96 (0.93–0.99), p = 0.005]. Despite a striking increase in the reported prevalence of long-standing mental health conditions among UK CYP, there was relatively little change in questionnaire scores reflecting psychological distress and emotional well-being

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