“Explosion” of anxiety levels in young people, says report

A recent report has found that anxiety among young people has trebled in the last 20 years.

The lead researcher was Professor Nick Freemantle of UCL. The findings were published in September 2020 in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

The report highlights a clear generational divide, with anxiety levels rising much more steeply among young people.

Prof Freemantle said: “Given the steep increases in anxiety revealed by this research, and the sheer number of people affected, it is now clear that Britain has a really serious and worsening problem with anxiety, which can have devastating effects on people’s lives.”

Brian Dow, from the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: “There is clearly a systemic problem in the growth of anxiety and depression amongst younger people. If we are to reverse this trend and prevent a problem becoming a crisis, the social contract we provide to young people has to have a better set of terms and conditions.”

Life-based learning takes the issue of mental health seriously. The Emotions is one of nine life themes, each with equal priority, that form of the framework of a life-based curriculum.

A life-based curriculum will help children to grow up emotionally resilient, able to look after themselves and contribute positively to their communities.