28 July 2026 | Common Sense Policy Group written evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee Inquiry
Mental health conditions have slowly been increasing among young people in the UK. Between 2012-13 and 2022-23, incidences of mental health conditions for under 25s rose by 10 percentage points (Stark et al., 2024). A meta-analysis of 11 high-income countries indicated that one in eight children have mental disorders (Barican et al., 2022). So far, the approach to addressing children and young people’s mental health has centred on expanding services. Rising demand and under-funded services are leaving thousands of young people without the support they need (Fashina-Ayilara & Byrne, 2025).
