THE NUMBERS

According to the House of Commons Library, in late 2024, there were almost 950,000 people aged 16-24 in the United Kingdom who were not in employment, education or training. That’s 12.3% of all 16 – 24-year-olds.

NHS England reckons about 22% of all 16 – 24-year-olds have a mental health disorder.  That's 1.6m. NHS England says it has 700,000 registered for a mental health disorder and now being treated. 750,000 15 – 25 years olds in the UK are being prescribed anti-depressants.

According to the Health Foundation, today’s young people have the poorest mental health of any age group in the UK, whereas two decades ago the reverse was true. Now, one in three (34%) people aged 18 – 24 are reporting symptoms of ‘common mental disorders’ (e.g. anxiety and/or depression). This figure rises to 41% for young women.

According to the RSA, (Royal Society for arts, manufactures and commerce), there is a common theme of having a feeling of “lack of agency, being ‘stuck’ as if their lives are not determined by themselves and instead by systems and politicians who do not understand their experience, and whose intentions young people are sceptical about.”

Lockdown Block helps you to get unstuck.