Young adults Statistics

Statistics about young adults with mental health problems.

The total population estimate in 2009 was 51,809,700. 3,016,500 are aged 15-19 and 3,554,300 are aged 20-24.

The total estimate of young people aged 15-24 was 6,570,800. The next census is in 2011. (1)

  • 2.2% of 16-24 year olds in Great Britain experienced a depressive episode. (2)
  • 4.7% of 16-24 year olds screen positive for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (2)
  • 16.4% of 16-24 year olds experienced neurotic symptoms. (2)
  • 0.2% of 16-24 year olds have a psychotic disorder. (2)
  • 1.9% of 16-24 year olds have a diagnosed personality disorder. (2)
  • 3.6 of 16-24 year olds have a generalised anxiety disorder. (2)
  • 2.3% of 16-24 year olds have an obsessive compulsive disorder. (2)
  • 6.2% of 16-24 year olds have attempted suicide in their lifetime. (2)
  • 8.9% of 16-24 year olds have self-harmed in their lifetime. (2)
  • 64 males per million of the population and 17 females per million died through intentional self-harm in 2008. (3)

References
1. Figures according to Office for National Statistics 2009
2. Figures according to Adult Psychiatric Morbidity in England, 2007: Results of a household survey. Sally McManus, Howard Meltzer, Traolach Brugha, Paul Bebbington, Rachel Jenkins. The Health and Social Care Information Centre. London, 2009.
3. Office for National Statistics (2009). Mortality Statistics: Deaths registered in 2008. London: Office for National Statistics

risk factors

Statistics about the risk factors that impact on mental health (last updated 2010).

Alcohol

  • In 2007 20% of school pupils aged 11-15 reported drinking alcohol in the week prior to interview. This figure is lower than in 2001, however, when 26% of pupils reported drinking in the last week.(1)
  • 81% of male and female 15 year olds have drunk alcohol.(1)
  • In 2006 30% of men aged 16-24 drank more than the recommended 21 units and 26% of women aged 16-24 drank more than the recommended 14 units.(1)

Crime

Statistics about young people and the prison population.

  • In June 2007 there were 11,178 15-21-year-olds being held in prisons in England and Wales.(2)
  • 10,701 were young men and 477 were young women.(2)
  • 2,440 were aged between 15-17years and 8,738 were aged between 18-20 years.(2)

Statistics about young people as victims of crime

  • Young men aged between 16-24 years are most at risk of being a victim of violent crime. In 2008/9 13.2% of young men in this age group experienced a violent crime compared to 5.5% of women in the same age group. There was a decline in risk as age increased. (3)
  • Young people are more likely to be victims of theft. 2.8% of young men aged 16-24 and 3.9% of young women aged 16-24 were victims of theft during 2008/9.(3)

Statistics about young people and drugs

  • Young people aged between 16-24 reported the highest levels of drug use in 2009/10.(4)
  • It is estimated that about 2.7 million young people in England and Wales have used an illicit drug at some point in their lives. 1.3 million used drugs in the previous year.(4)
  • It is estimated that 16.4% of 16-24 year olds had used a Class A drug at least once in their lifetime.(4)
  • It is estimated that 40.7% of 16-24 year olds have used one or more illicit drugs in their lifetime and 11.6% in the last month.(4)
  • In 2009/10 22.3% of 16-19 year olds reported illicit drug use.(4)

Learning disabilities

  • It is estimated that there are about 65,000 children with severe and profound learning disabilities.(5)
  • Children with learning disabilities are six times more likely to have mental health problems.(6)

Education and Employment

  • It was estimated that in May-July 2010 the youth unemployment rate (age 18-24) was 17.4%.(7)
  • The proportion of 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) was 10.2% in the second quarter of 2010.(8)

Homelessness

Provisional data for 2009/10 indicated that in England there were 15,510 homeless young people aged between 16-24. This data is based on local authorities’ decisions on homeless applications so the actual figure could be higher. (9)

Leaving Care

  • There were 6,100 care leavers who were 19 in 2009. Of these, 63% were in education, training or employment, 31% were not in education, training or employment, and they had lost touch with 6%.(10)
  • 43% were living independently, but 6% were classed as being in ‘other types of accommodation’, which included bed and breakfast and emergency accommodation. (10)

Teenage Pregnancy

  • Teenage mothers have three times the rate of post-natal depression of older mothers and a higher risk of poor mental health for three years after the birth.(11)
  • Children of teenage mothers have a 63% increased risk of being born into poverty compared to babies born to mothers in their twenties, have higher mortality rates under 8 and are more likely to have accidents and behavioural problems.(11)
  • In 2006 there were 103,120 conceptions for women aged under 20. 42% ended in abortion.

References
1. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care (2006), Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2006. London: The Information Centre for Health and Social Care
2.    National Offender Management Service (2007). Population in custody: monthly tables: England and Wales
3.  Home Office (2006). Crime in England and Wales 2008/9. London: Home Office
4.  Hoare  J and Moon D. (2010). Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2009/10 British Crime Survey: England and Wales. London: Home Office
5.  Do Once and Share (DOAS) Action Team (2005). Child and Adolescent Mental Health- Learning Disabilities Action Team: scoping document
6.  ‘How To’ Guide: How to support young people with learning disabilities and mental health issues, 2009 NCB
7.  Office for National Statistics: Labour Market Statistics. London. 2010
8.  Department for Education, NEET Statistics- Quarterly brief. London.2010
9.  Department for Communities and Local Government (2010). Statutory Homelessness: homeless households accepted by local authorities.
10.  Department for Children, Schools and Families (2009). Children looked after in England (including adoptions and care leavers) 2009. London: Department for Children, Schools and Families
11. Department for Education and Skills (2010) Teenage Pregnancy: Accelerating the Strategy to 2010. London: DfES
12. Office for National Statistics (2009) Social Trends No 39. Office for National Statistics: London: Palgrave.

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