A new survey has found that most young adults in Britain are facing significant mental health challenges, with many expecting to need support in the coming year.
The research, conducted by YouGov for University College London (UCL), surveyed 1,545 people ages 16 to 25. Two-thirds (64%) said they have experienced mental health difficulties, either currently or in the past. Women were more likely than men to report struggles (72% vs. 56%).
Rising Demand for Support
About one in three young adults (32%) said they expect to need mental health support within the next 12 months. The findings highlight an urgent need for better access to early intervention and prevention programs, researchers say.
Professor Essi Viding of UCL’s Psychology and Language Sciences department noted that while awareness of mental health is improving, effective treatment options tailored to young people remain limited. “We need more research to understand how we can prevent mental health problems from emerging and how to help those with the most serious needs access quick and effective support,” Viding said.
What’s Driving Poor Mental Health?
Survey respondents pointed to several stressors, including:
- Academic pressure (17%)
- Financial strain (16%)
- Unemployment or being out of school (47% in this group reported ongoing mental health difficulties, compared with 32% overall)
- Previous UCL research has linked exam stress and academic workloads to worsening mental health among young people.
Where Young Adults Turn for Help
Most respondents (86%) who had experienced mental health difficulties said they sought some form of support. Informal networks were most common:
- Friends (53%), with 88% saying this help was useful
- Family (47%), with 70% finding it helpful
Professional services received mixed reviews. Private therapists were rated positively by 74% of those who used them, while NHS therapists (56%) and general practitioners (53%) scored lower. Many who were referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) reported the experience as unhelpful, which researchers suggest may reflect the severity of cases requiring CAMHS support.
The Need for Tailored Treatment
Professor Argyris Stringaris, a psychiatrist at UCL, emphasized that the broad term “mental health difficulties” covers a wide range of experiences—many of which do not necessarily amount to clinical mental illness. He warned against a one-size-fits-all approach.
“While some interventions are effective, not all will work for everyone—and some may even be harmful,” Stringaris said. “We need better tools to identify who needs support, and what type, to deliver care that truly helps.”
Stringaris’ recent research also found that NHS Talking Therapies, often recommended for depression and anxiety, appear to be less effective for people ages 16–24 than for older adults. This underscores the need for age-appropriate treatment strategies.
Moving Forward
UCL’s Grand Challenge of Mental Health & Wellbeing, which commissioned the survey, is focused on cross-disciplinary approaches to prevention and treatment. Current projects range from school-based emotional skills training to new social prescribing pathways designed specifically for young people.
Researchers hope that by combining psychological, social, and medical strategies, they can better address the growing demand for mental health care among young adults.
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