- Published
Accusations that the young are a snowflake generation are wrong, the head of an independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism has told the BBC.
asserted
head → publish → BBC
In an exclusive interview, Prof Peter Fonagy says there has been a real rise in mental distress among children and young people, with anxiety, depression, self-harm and eating disorders the most common.
asserted
anxiety → say → children
He says it is "harder to be young" now given the economic and employment uncertainty they face coupled with the challenges presented by social media.
asserted
they → say → media
The review was ordered nine months ago by Wes Streeting after the then-health secretary claimed in an interview that young people were over-diagnosed and "written off".
asserted
people → order → interview
It is likely to feed into government policies on everything from NHS services and benefits to support for young people not in education, employment or training.
asserted
It → feed → education
Fonagy says he chose to speak to the BBC ahead of the publication, which is expected later this week, because he was concerned the debate around ADHD and autism would "obscure" the wider issue of mental health.
asserted
debate → say → health
Some have argued greater awareness and misattributing normal life stresses to mental illness are factors in the increase in cases.
asserted
awareness → argue → cases
Fonagy told the BBC his personal battle with mental health when he was young was a driving factor in his desire to help young people.
asserted
he → tell → people
He experienced suicidal thoughts as a teenager after moving to London from Hungary without his parents.
asserted
He → experience → parents
But he says he was fortunate to get therapy from a local service that "saved his life".
asserted
that → say → life
"It's harder to be young now," says Fonagy, 74, adding his review "dismisses the idea of a snowflake generation".
"
asserted
review → say → generation
I'm in awe of the way they have adjusted to an environment that is far more difficult than I ever had to face."
asserted
I → adjust → environment
He says economic and employment uncertainty as well as the pressures of social media have created a "very toxic" environment for young people.
asserted
uncertainty → say → people
They are a generation that has real serious challenges that I would not wish to have had when I was their age.
asserted
I → have → that
"Adults have let them down.
asserted
Adults → let → them
We're the first generation that probably collectively feels we had a better life than our children will have.
asserted
children → feel → life
So, to the person who says it's a snowflake generation, just try living 24 hours as a 16-year-old."
More than 100 experts and families with experience of mental health problems have worked on the review with Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and adviser to NHS England on children and young people's mental health.
He says it concludes the rise in mental health problems since the 1990s is real, with about one in four 16 to 24-year-olds now struggling.
asserted
olds → say → 1990s
The data on this is contested as some sources rely on self-reporting, and sceptics argue greater awareness and reduced stigma around mental health mean more people are coming forward.
asserted
people → contest → health
Some have also questioned whether society is now over-medicalising distress in people's lives – giving people diagnoses when what they are facing is temporary stress that they should learn to cope with.
asserted
they → question → that
Last year the BBC found that many GPs had concerns about over-diagnosis and felt normal life stresses were being over-medicalised.
asserted
stresses → find → diagnosis
Fonagy, however, is adamant that what young people are experiencing represents a real rise in mental health problems.
asserted
experiencing → experience → problems
But he also accepts greater awareness is leading to more people seeking medical help.
asserted
people → accept → help
The trend is affecting both boys and girls, but becomes particularly pronounced in girls from about the age of 12.
asserted
trend → affect → 12
Sexual aggression from boys is a big concern, he says, but he adds that the expectations society places on girls and young women is a factor.
asserted
society → say → girls
He says young people are struggling with a range of different conditions from eating disorders and anxiety "that's so powerful people avoid going to school" through to depression that's "so strong people cannot sleep at night and lose their appetite and feel their life is not worth living".
asserted
life → say → appetite
His report will say the problems were exacerbated by the pandemic because of the disruption it caused to their lives.
asserted
it → say → lives
Young people the BBC spoke to who have struggled with their mental health say it is important the government acts on the findings of Fonagy's report when it comes out.
asserted
it → speak → report
"It's all very well having this flashy report, but it's useless if they don't put that into practice," says Omari, 22.
asserted
Omari → have → practice
He had a tough time at school, but says teachers didn't listen.
asserted
teachers → have → school
"I made an attempt on my life because I was really struggling with bullying.
asserted
I → make → bullying
"Suddenly, when I did end up in hospital, they all wanted to care.
asserted
they → end → hospital
Others expressed concern about their futures.
asserted
Others → express → futures
Mattea, 17, is in temporary social housing and has struggled with anxiety and depression.
asserted
Mattea → struggle → anxiety
"I don't know what's going to happen to my life."
asserted
what → know → life
She says she feels adults have let her down.
asserted
adults → say → her
"No one's going to come and sort my life out for me.
asserted
one → go → me
I have to do it on my own."
asserted
I → have → own
Fonagy told the BBC the support being provided to young people needs to be improved
The NHS, he says, is simply not equipped to cope.
asserted
he → tell → people
He says too many people are being left on waiting lists, pointing to figures that show one in three people referred to mental health services are still waiting for help after a year.
asserted
people → say → year
There are some positives steps being taken, he says, including the rollout of mental health teams to work closely with schools.
asserted
he → be → schools
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
