G118 Mental health and well-being trends among children and young people in the UK, 1995 – 2014; analysis of repeated cross-sectional national health surveys

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Pitchforth ◽  
K Fahy ◽  
T Ford ◽  
M Wolpert ◽  
RM Viner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
National Health Surveys

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

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (08) ◽  
pp. 1275-1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Pitchforth ◽  
Katie Fahy ◽  
Tamsin Ford ◽  
Miranda Wolpert ◽  
Russell M. Viner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
General Health ◽  
Health Surveys ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
The Uk ◽  
National Health Surveys

AbstractBackgroundThere 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.MethodsData 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.ResultsAcross 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].ConclusionsDespite 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.

scholarly journals Use of online cultural content for mental health and well-being during COVID-19 restrictions: cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Syed Sheriff ◽  
Helen Adams ◽  
Evgenia Riga ◽  
Andrew K. Przybylski ◽  
Laura Bonsaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Online Culture ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
June July ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

Aims and method To gain a deeper understanding of the use of online culture and its potential benefits to mental health and well-being, sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported data on usage, perceived mental health benefits and health status were collected in an online cross-sectional survey during COVID-19 restrictions in the UK in June–July 2020. Results In total, 1056 people completed the survey. A high proportion of participants reported finding online culture helpful for mental health; all but one of the benefits were associated with regular use and some with age. Reported benefits were wide-ranging and interconnected. Those aged under 25 years were less likely to be regular users of online culture or to have increased their use during lockdown. Clinical implications There may be benefits in targeting cultural resources for mental health to vulnerable groups such as young adults.

scholarly journals Does the Progression of the COVID-19 Pandemic Have an Influence on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Young People? A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12795
Author(s):  
Zeliha Özlü-Erkilic ◽  
Oswald D. Kothgassner ◽  
Thomas Wenzel ◽  
Andreas Goreis ◽  
Anthony Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Extended Course ◽  
Health And Well Being

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to have impaired the mental health and well-being of young people. This study, for the first time, explores these aspects in young people with and without a migratory background during the extended course of the pandemic and restrictive measures, comparing two countries with a high COVID-19 prevalence: Austria and Turkey. Methods: The authors used the “Psychological General Well-being” index as part of an anonymous online survey with 3665 participants (ages 15–25), recruited from both countries during the first and the second waves of the pandemic, collecting data on individual experiences and problems encountered during the pandemic. Results: Mental health (b = 0.06, p < 0.023) and general psychological well-being worsened with the progression of the pandemic. Participants with financial problems had the most severe negative effect on mental health (b = 0.12, p < 0.001). Furthermore, females living in Turkey, both natives (b = −0.21, p < 0.001) and migrants (b = 0.25, p < 0.001), reported a more deteriorated mental health status over time. Conclusions: The extended pandemic duration and resultant “lockdown” restrictions have negatively affected the mental health of young people to varying degrees, depending on country of residence and migration background. A strong “recovery plan” that considers group-specific needs and vulnerabilities is urgently needed.

scholarly journals Analysis and critique of ‘Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: A green paper’: Some implications for refugee children and young people

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-350
Author(s):  
Pat Cox ◽  
Jane March McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Green Paper ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Health And Well Being

Adopting a children’s rights perspective, a critique and analysis underpinned by documentary research methodology was undertaken in order to assess the extent to which the government’s Green Paper (Department of Health and Social Care and Department of Education, 2017. Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision: a green paper. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transforming-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-provision-a-green-paper (accessed 7 December 2017)) addresses the mental health and well-being needs of refugee children and young people in England and Wales, identifying strengths, limitations and challenges for future policy and practice. Findings suggest that there is much of potential benefit to refugee children and young people’s future mental health and well-being. However, a paradigm shift, explicit in implications, scale and time frame, will be required, if the Green Paper is to achieve those changes in attitudes, practice and service delivery which it anticipates. We argue that this Green Paper’s overarching challenge is that it is premised on Western-centric models in its understanding of the experiences of refugee children and young people, and management of trauma and mental health. It fails to recognize the meanings and significance of culture, and of diversity and difference, and the need to invest in all communities in facilitating engagement and support for children and young people’s mental health issues.

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