1 Adolescent mental health in context

Statistics can be baffling if they are presented without their full context as understanding this can help us understand what the numbers mean. To get you thinking about context, carry out the first activity now.

Activity 1: The size of the issue

Timing: Allow about 20 minutes

Step 1: If you had to guess how many children were experiencing mental health issues at any one time, which one of these figures would you choose? Click a percentage figure and read the comment. There is a long description button below the figure if this is easier to learn from.

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Interactive Figure 2: Mental health of Children and young people in England (2017)
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The interactive figure shows five circles that each contain some information. 5.5% - In England in 2017, 5.5% of 2 to 4 year old children experienced a mental disorder. 8.1% - In England in 2017, 8.1% of 5 to 19 year olds experienced emotional disorders. 12.8% - In England, one in eight (12.8%) 5 to 19 year olds had at least one mental disorder when assessed in 2017. 16.9% - In England in 2017, 16.9% of 17 to 19 year olds experienced a mental disorder. Source: NHS Digital (2017) Mental Health of Children and Young people in England Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/ data-and-information/ publications/ statistical/ mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/ 2017/ 2017 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]

Interactive Figure 2: Mental health of Children and young people in England (2017)
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Discussion

As you will discover, all these figures are correct in some way, but it depends on the age of the child and what we mean when we say ‘mental disorder’ as well as where and when we are counting these issues. For example, all the figures presented here come from a large survey of the mental health of children and young people in England, which was carried out in 2017. A survey of a different country in another year is likely to produce different figures.

It is also helpful to know how the figures were obtained, for example, whether it was a large survey or a handful of interviews.

By signing in and enrolling on this course you can view and complete all activities within the course, track your progress in My OpenLearn Create. and when you have completed a course, you can download and print a free Statement of Participation - which you can use to demonstrate your learning.

Clearly, Interactive Figure 2 shows that something is happening between the ages of 2 and 19, as the rates of mental disorder increase but what might be behind this increase? Our best evidence suggests that it is likely to be the result of a complex, dynamic mixture of physical and social development occurring within particular settings. This course examines what happens roughly between the ages of 10 and 19. This period of time in a young person’s life is sometimes called adolescence.

The statistics you just looked at showed the situation in 2017. Did you perhaps ask yourself, ‘is that better or worse than previous years?’, and ‘What’s the situation now’? You’ll consider these types of time-related trends next.

Learning outcomes

1.1 The trends