Young people's mental health

Huge numbers of children and young people in England are experiencing emotional and mental health problems, but support is woefully inadequate.

We are fighting to get children and young people the help they need through our innovative frontline services, ground-breaking research and campaigning.

Only by asking children can we learn what makes them happy and what will improve life for this generation. That's why each year we produce our well-being report - the most comprehensive research of its kind.

The Good Childhood Report 2018 adds to the huge body of research we have developed through more than 13 years of expert well-being research asking over 65,000 children. Children are struggling with their identity and alarming numbers are self-harming. Pressure to fit in is making children unhappy – from how they look, to their sexuality, to how boys and girls must behave.

We use what children have told us to make recommendations to decision-makers in England and Wales on what needs to change. We’re urging the Government to make sure that every child can talk to a counsellor in their school.

Problem debt leaves families and young people feeling stressed, anxious and depressed.

Children living in families struggling with debt are five times more likely to be unhappy than children in families who don’t have difficulty with debt.

Our Debt Trap campaign is calling on the Government to give families a breathing space to repay their debts, so children don’t pay the price with their mental health.