One in five kids suffering with mental health issues after lockdown — as number nearly doubles in past 20 years
LOCKDOWN has left one in five kids with mental health issues — almost double the number 20 years ago.
A report warns as many as 2.3million could have a mental disorder by 2030.
The Centre for Social Justice study comes 20 years after its landmark Broken Britain survey kickstarted reforms that led to Universal Credit.
Back then, just one in nine children were assessed as having a clinically recognisable mental health problem.
The new report found 13.4million people lead lives hit by low wages, poor housing, chronic ill-health and crime.
It also found that calls to domestic abuse lines increased 700 per cent in lockdown and school absences rose by 134 per cent.
The report said: “There is a growing gap between those who can get by and those stuck at the bottom.”
It added: “There are over 2.6 million people economically inactive because of long term sickness, an increase of nearly 500,000 since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Over half of those signed off (53%) reported depression, bad nerves or anxiety.
“The most disadvantaged view mental ill health as the biggest factor holding them back, which only comes fifth for the general public.”
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic deaths from alcohol poisoning, which had been dropping, have now risen 15.4%.”