Major increase in mental health problems among Neet young people

Department for Education statistics show that a rise in the prevalence of mental health issues among disadvantaged young people comes despite the Neet rate dropping since 2012.

The figures show that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds classified as Neet who have a mental health problem has grown from 11.7 per cent in 2012 to 23.9 per cent in 2018.

This includes those who suffer with depression, anxiety, a phobia and panic attacks.

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The rise in the prevalence of mental health conditions coincides with a fall in the overall rate of 16- to 24-year-olds who are classified as Neet, from 16.1 per cent to 12.2 per cent.

However, the figures for the last year show that 16- and 17-year-olds are increasingly at risk of becoming Neet.

Between October and December 2018 and the same period in 2019, the proportion of 16- and 17-year-olds classified as Neet rose by 0.3 percentage points to 4.5 per cent.

The most at-risk age group is 18-year-olds, with a 13.1 per cent Neet rate between October and December last year. This is up by 0.7 percentage points on the same period in 2018.

The government has announced an extra £1m in funding to support further education students at risk of mental health illness.

The funding will be used for projects to target and support students at risk of mental ill health, or those who are facing barriers accessing support.

This #UniMentalHealthDay, our Activist Wes shares three tips on how students can look after their mental health. pic.twitter.com/h7HKVhVUPm

— YoungMinds (@YoungMindsUK) March 5, 2020

Universities regulator Office for Students will manage the fund and is inviting bids for projects.

Those from deprived backgrounds, black and minority ethnic students, young people with a disability or who are LGBT+, are among the most at-risk groups.

Recent research by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that 17 per cent of students said they have a mental health condition, up from 12 per cent in 2016.

“It is vital no student is put at risk by not getting the help they need,” said universities minister Michelle Donelan.

“Universities must step up to this challenge, and this funding will help them and the sector by looking at ways support can be better targeted and improved."

Meanwhile, health experts have backed investment in intensive community support and local inpatient beds for young people with severe mental health problems.

Evaluation by charity the Centre of Mental Health and the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network looked at six pilots where this type of intensive support has been used.

This found that such support reduced the number of children treated in hospitals away from their local area and the cost of care.