Why do YoungMinds matter?

With good mental health, children and young people do better in every way. They are happier in their families, are able to learn better, do better at school, and enjoy friendships and new experiences.

Childhood and teenage years are when mental health is developed and patterns are set for the future. So a child with good mental health is much more likely to have good mental health as an adult, and to be able to take on adult responsibilities and fulfill their potential.

850,000 children have mental health problems

Sadly, the society we live in can be bad news for the mental health of our children and young people in the UK:

• Three children in every classroom has a diagnosable mental health disorder (and that’s just the ones that have been diagnosed)
• One in five show signs of an eating disorder
• One in 12 deliberately harm themselves (and 25,000 of them are hospitalised each year because of this)
• Nearly 80,000 children and young people suffer from severe depression
• Two young people kill themselves every day

Often demonised by society, thousands of children and young people are isolated, unhappy, have eating disorders and self harm, some even commit suicide. Many are likely to become victims of crime, grow up in dysfunctional families, or left to cope with illness, drugs and/or alcohol issues – not necessarily their own. 

There is still a huge stigma around mental health which means children and young people are not getting the support they need.  Disruptive, difficult, withdrawn and disturbed kids need to be supported and not just ignored or told off.  

Early intervention is vital

Investing in services and support for young people not only reduces misery and loneliness, but saves millions in future costs to the criminal justice system, NHS, education and social care costs.

• More than half of all adults with mental health problems were diagnosed in childhood. Fewer than half of them were treated appropriately at the time.
• 45% of children in care have a mental health disorder - these are some of the most vulnerable people in our society
• 95% of imprisoned young offenders have a mental health disorder. Many of them are struggling with more than one disorder

YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional well being and mental health of children and young people and empowering their parents and carers.

Find out more

• Download our leaflet, Why do young minds matter? [PDF]