The mental health of teenagers in the UK has become a serious concern. Researchers asked teenagers to imagine their future, expecting positive images to fill their minds. However, the opposite has occurred in the UK. According to new research, British teenagers believe their generation will have a worse life than their parents.
There is growing concern about the mental health of children and young people in the UK. But is it getting worse, and what are the factors affecting it? Teenagers paint a bleak picture of the future, citing three main worries: money, jobs, and the climate crisis, as reported by a survey for Barnardo’s. British teenagers believe their generation will have a worse life than their parents.
The mental health of teenagers in the UK declines due to financial concerns
New research indicates that the primary concern for teenagers about the future is financial stability. One teenager said, “Everyone is struggling these days. My mum struggles to pay the bills, and she’s a nurse with a master’s degree. I’m not that clever, so I imagine my life will be harder than hers. We used to be able to go on holidays, but Mum can’t afford it anymore.”
Worrying about future financial security is threatening the mental health of teenagers in the UK. Money worries are a significant issue, with 19% feeling they will struggle financially. Teenagers believe they will not have enough money at 30 to live comfortably. Of those surveyed, 10% felt they were unable to change their futures.
The mental health of teenagers in the UK declines due to employment concerns
Teenagers express concerns about their future employment prospects. One said, “Everyone can go to university and get qualifications. However, if you can’t get a decent job afterwards, then it’s meaningless. You can only try your best and pray for some luck to come your way. However, you can’t change this, even if you wanted to.”
A YouGov online poll for Future First shows even younger children are concerned about their working future. 46% of 11-year-olds answered “yes” to the question, “Do you ever worry about your job when you are an adult?” More than a quarter (26%) of seven-year-olds also answered “yes” to the same question.
The mental health of teenagers in the UK has declined due to the climate crisis
A report by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found that 49% of UK participants aged 16 to 25 were either very worried or extremely worried about climate change. Moreover, 55.7% of children and young people in that survey thought humanity was doomed, and 54.9% anticipated fewer opportunities than their parents due to climate change.
Young people in the UK also expressed anxiety about floods in their local areas and the wider impacts of ice melting on the environment. Their responses highlighted the connection between climate change and its impact on their mental health.
Great Disappointment: the UK teens believe they will have harder lives than their parents
The mental health of teenagers in the UK has become a major concern. Researchers asked teenagers to imagine their lives at the age of 30. 55% of teenagers believed their lives would be worse than the previous generation’s, while another 34% thought the next generation’s lives would not be any better. Of those surveyed, 9% said they felt “hopeless” about their future.
Lynn Perry remarked that children believing in harder lives than their parents is a sign of breaking the social contract. “We’re at risk of failing the next generation.”
From mental health problems to mental health disorders among the UK teenagers
Youth mental health has declined in recent years. One in six children aged 5-16 are likely to have a mental health problem, a figure that has increased by 50% in the last three years. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, the proportion of older young people aged 17-19 in England with a probable mental health disorder jumped from one in six to one in four.
When teenagers worry about the environment, increasing costs, and other issues, they feel pressured about their future. “None of this is of their making, but it’s just not right that children are afraid of the years ahead instead of feeling excited about their future. We know that to be especially true for children from disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Perry.
Worsening family situations and teen mental health
Families across the UK are struggling to make ends meet, with many children going to school hungry and returning to cold homes. Danielle from Bradford, a mother of three, said, “I have never struggled like we’re struggling now. We can only afford a food budget of £50 a month. As the boys are sleeping on the floor, it’s really hard for them to get to sleep. I have to keep the heating on in the evening to try and make it more comfortable for them, and then I wake up early to turn it on again before they wake up. We have sleepless nights ourselves, sat there all night worrying about the situation and what will happen.”
A future perspective on the mental health of teenagers in the UK
The Department for Education has indicated that anxiety will continue to be a cause for concern in the future. Anxiety is consistently among the top issues for primary and secondary-aged pupils, and research suggests it is worse for girls and young women.
Longitudinal studies show young people are likely to continue experiencing declines in happiness and feeling unheard. Many children struggle with their health and well-being as a result of increasing poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. The mental health of teenagers in the UK and related studies call for immediate action to secure a better future.
