A severe crisis in the mental health of young people is happening below the media and political radar. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers and their confused and unhappy parents and teachers hardly know what to do.

A severe crisis in the mental health of young people is happening below the media and political radar. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers and their confused and unhappy parents and teachers hardly know what to do. Evidence suggests this is not unique to Britain. It started to escalate before Covid forced many countries to impose lockdowns and close schools, which only made things worse.

Two factors have been suggested, one positive, and one negative – indeed, rather sinister. On the positive side, the breaking down of the social stigma surrounding mental ill-health has made it easier to ask for help. On the negative side there is a growing suspicion that social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and so on, have poured fuel on the fire.

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