Mental health of young people in the UK: The alarm bell and our responsibility

As a clinical psychologist who has worked with adolescents and young people in the UK for over 12 years, I have never felt more deeply anxious than I have in the past few years. What is happening in my practice clearly reflects an alarming reality: mental health problems among young people are increasing rapidly, both in number and severity . Numbers that cannot be ignored According to the 2023 NHS Digital report , 1 in 6 young people aged 7–16 in the UK have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder . This rises to 1 in 4 among 17–19 year olds. Even more worryingly, calls to the youth mental health crisis line have increased by almost 40% since 2018. In my practice, cases involving social anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and sleep disorders have doubled in just the last five years. This is no longer an isolated phenomenon, but a societal trend . The effects of mental crisis in young people [li indent=0 align=left]Declining Academic Performance[li indent=0 align=left] I once worked with a 15-year-old student who had been an excellent student, but within 6 months, he began to have chronic insomnia, anxiety in class, and a dramatic drop in grades. The reason was not because his academic ability had deteriorated, but because he had lost the ability to concentrate and was mentally “eroded” by the pressure of social media and family expectations.[li indent=0 align=left]Impact on social relationships[li indent=0 align=left] Another client, 19 years old, was once sociable but after a personal event completely withdrew from friends , spent most of her time in her room and hardly socialized. This prolonged isolation made her depression worse and led to thoughts of self-harm.[li indent=0 align=left]Long-term impact on personality development[li indent=0 align=left] Adolescence is a period of shaping values, coping abilities and social skills. If these years are dominated by anxiety and depression without timely support, the risk of forming negative behaviour patterns and low self-esteem that continue into adulthood is very high.The reason for this increase [li indent=0 align=left]Academic Pressure and Social Expectations : The highly competitive education system leaves many students feeling “always being graded” not only on paper but also in their social lives.[li indent=0 align=left]Social Media Influences : Constant exposure to perfectly edited images and unrealistic standards of success leads to feelings of low self-esteem, negative comparisons, and anxiety.[li indent=0 align=left]Disconnected living environments : The decline in community activities and outdoor time leaves young people lacking healthy stress-relief skills.[li indent=0 align=left]Lack of early support services : Many families do not know how to access professional help, or still have the prejudice that seeing a psychologist is a sign of “weakness”.Why should you seek professional help? I often emphasize to parents and students that mental health needs to be cared for as much as physical health . And just as a surgery requires a well-trained doctor, psychological problems need to be treated by people with professional qualifications, clinical experience and appropriate equipment . [li indent=0 align=left]Proven Scientific Knowledge : A trained clinical psychologist not only listens, but also uses researched and proven methods, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), or EMDR (Trauma Reduction Therapy).[li indent=0 align=left]Modern Assessment Tools : Professional facilities use standardized assessment sheets, progress tracking software, and in-depth psychological tests to accurately identify the problem and its severity.[li indent=0 align=left]Safe therapeutic environment : The therapeutic space is designed to make clients feel secure and comfortable, helping the sharing and intervention process to be most effective.Knowledge & benefits of early treatment [li indent=0 align=left]Preventing the progression of the condition[li indent=0 align=left] Early intervention reduces the risk of the psychological problem becoming more serious. A mild case of anxiety, if treated promptly, can be controlled in just 8–12 therapy sessions.[li indent=0 align=left]Developing coping skills Therapy[li indent=0 align=left] not only helps overcome the current crisis, but also equips clients with skills to manage emotions, solve problems, and build healthy lifestyles to deal with future challenges.[li indent=0 align=left]Improve relationships[li indent=0 align=left] When mentally stable, young people can easily connect, maintain friendships and build social support networks – important factors for comprehensive development.[li indent=0 align=left]Increased self-confidence and self-awareness[li indent=0 align=left] Through therapy, clients learn to understand and accept themselves, thereby strengthening their self-esteem and decision-making ability.Conclusion I believe that investing in the mental health of young people is not only the responsibility of families, but also of communities and societies. Every school, every organization, and every individual can contribute to creating an environment where seeking psychological support is seen as a courageous and necessary act . If you are a parent, teacher, or young person facing mental stress, I encourage you to seek professional psychological services. There you will find not only knowledge, tools, and techniques, but also a companion who is willing to listen, understand, and help you find balance. Because, mental health today is the foundation for a healthy, happy and fulfilling future