Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 2
2
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Although the full long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of children...
Conclusion
Although the full long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of children and young people under the age of 25 is as yet unknown, it is already clear that the mental health needs of these groups have been much exacerbated by the pandemic. This has been supported by NHS data from July 2020 which shows that one in six young people now have a probable mental health disorder. But the impact of this has not been even across different children and young people, with older teenage girls, for example, particularly affected by the rise in eating disorders. In order to understand the level of need in children and young people’s mental health as well as the inequalities that continue to exist, more regular and accurate prevalence data is urgently needed.
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Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
24. We accept this recommendation in part. 25. The department agrees that the gap between the 2004 and 2017 NHS Digital Mental Health Surveys was too long. 26. The department has committed to conducting a comprehensive national survey every 7 years, and the next one will be in 2024. 27. In addition to this commitment, following the publication of the 2017 survey, NHS Digital has since conducted 2 waves of follow-up surveys, with one in in 2020 and one in 2021. A third follow-up wave is being conducted imminently, and the results will be published later this year. These follow-up waves have been commissioned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will enable the department to better understand the impact the pandemic has had on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.