A prominent expert argues that today’s youth face real and growing mental health challenges, with about one in four aged 16 to 24 affected, and that the rise is not just about diagnosis but actual hardship.

A government-commissioned review set to publish soon will examine ADHD, autism, and mental health, with findings pointing to increased loneliness among young people linked to mobile devices and social media.

The review identifies anxiety, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders as the most common issues among youths.

Advocates urge practical action: adults should listen to young people, implement research findings, and move from reports to real solutions.

Hope 4 More reports that their approach helps students miss less school, drawing criticism from some adults who say it’s too soft, a critique Griffiths counters with focus on outcomes.

A GP notes that among more than 1,000 referred patients, nearly all received ADHD diagnoses, illustrating clinicians' threshold views on diagnosing.

Fonagy’s public remarks come ahead of the report, shaping the broader discourse on autism and ADHD in policy and media.

The trend spans both boys and girls, with a notable impact on girls; researchers caution against attributing all issues to ADHD or autism misdiagnosis.

Young people voice frustration with unresponsive adults and schools, calling for timely, practical support rather than solely theoretical reports.

Calls to action include improving access to mental health services, school-linked teams, and safeguarding broader social support across education, housing, and families.

Social media is seen as amplifying bullying and appearance pressures, enabling digital harassment to continue beyond the classroom.

Mental Health Foundation endorses the findings and urges moving from problem recognition to delivering preventive, actionable solutions with strong foundations in education, employment, housing, income, and community resources.