Posted 22.10.2020

A landmark survey has delivered reliable prevalence estimates of the rates of mental health problems in children and young people in Northern Ireland.

12.6% of children and young people in Northern Ireland experience common mood disorders such as anxiety and depression – around 25% higher than in other UK nations, reflecting a similar trend in adults here, according to the Northern Ireland Youth Wellbeing Survey.

A wide range of child, family and socioeconomic factors are known to be associated with increased levels of depression and anxiety. In the Northern Ireland Youth Wellbeing Survey, exposure to family trauma and adversity, poor child health and disability, having special educational needs, living in a household in receipt of social security benefits and parental mental health, were the strongest predictors for having a common mood or anxiety disorder.

Read the full Youth Wellbeing Survey Findings