And almost half – 45% – of all young people referred to mental health services have serious difficulties, says the joint report by Speech and Language UK and Centre for Mental Health.
A record two million children in the UK now face significant struggles with talking and understanding words, say the campaigners, adding: “The crisis is particularly acute in disadvantaged areas, where up to 50% of children started school behind in communication and language even before the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.”
The report highlights how in 2023, one in five children and young people (aged eight to 25) experienced a mental health problem – a dramatic increase from one in nine in 2017.
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