23/09/2026
A new independent review chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy has highlighted a real rise in mental health difficulties and psychological distress, particularly among younger people.
The interim report found that the prevalence of common mental health conditions among adults in England has risen from around 15–16% in the early 1990s to around 23% by the mid-2020s, with the clearest increases among young adults.
The review also highlights the growing pressure on services and the importance of making support available earlier, without making access dependent on diagnosis alone.
📢 Dr Nihara Krause MBE, Founder and CEO of stem4, says:
“Early intervention is one of the most important ways we can support young people’s mental health. It means recognising difficulties before they become more entrenched, and ensuring that young people have access to a range of appropriate, evidence-based support.
We need to make sure that support is available through the places young people already are, including schools, primary care and digital platforms, alongside specialist mental health services when these are needed.
At stem4, we believe that prevention and early intervention should be at the heart of how we respond to the growing mental health needs of young people.”
The interim report is an important contribution to understanding the changing picture of young people’s mental health, while recognising that there is no single explanation for the trends we are seeing. For us at stem4, it reinforces the importance of investing in prevention, early intervention and accessible, evidence-based support alongside specialist services.
Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqzrz0z4plk1o
