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NHS warning: 16% of older primary pupils have probable mental health condition

One in five children and young people in England aged 8 to 16 had a probable mental health disorder in 2023, NHS figures reveal, including notable numbers of primary-age pupils.
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The research shows that prevalence in 2023 has increased slightly when compared to 2022 (20.3% compared to 18%), but is notably higher than in 2017 when 12.1% of 7 to 16-year-olds were judged to have probable mental health conditions.

Breaking down secondary and primary age groups, the survey shows that while 22.6% of 11 to 16-year-olds are considered to have a probably mental health condition, as many as 15.7% of 8, 9 and 10-year-olds do as well.

The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 report has been published this week by NHS England. The annual study first began in 2017 and this year’s iteration involved responses from 2,370 children and young people who also took part in the 2017 research.

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