A leading child psychiatrist has cautioned that the apparent surge in mental health issues among young people may be partly due to overdiagnosis and increased awareness, rather than a genuine epidemic. Professor Tamsin Ford, who developed the NHS survey on child mental health, said the rise in diagnosable disorders was smaller than expected.
The number of children referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) in England has more than doubled in two years. However, an NHS survey of around 10,000 young people found that the proportion of under-16s with any mental disorder rose from 11.4% to 13.6% between 1999 and 2017—a modest increase.
Professor Ford noted that self-reported mental health conditions among young people increased six-fold in England between 1999 and 2014, yet formal assessments did not show a corresponding rise in psychological distress. This suggests that children and parents are better at recognising difficulties, narrowing the gap between existing problems and those reported.
The study also highlighted a sharp rise in hospital admissions for self-harm among girls since 1997, though no equivalent increase was seen in boys. An NHS Digital spokesman said the gender disparity indicated the rise was not solely due to better recording. However, Professor Ford cautioned that reduced stigma and improved professional recognition may mean more cases are now recorded.
Lorraine Khan from the Centre for Mental Health said there were 'tentative signs of a decline in young women's wellbeing', but the evidence remains contradictory. The findings underscore the challenge of distinguishing between a genuine rise in mental illness and increased reporting driven by awareness and changing diagnostic practices.
