1) The number of under-16s in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) has doubled over 10 years. In 2023 it is now at some 682k in England and Wales.
2) The cause of this increase is almost entirely due to awards made for those whose main condition is either a learning difficulty (caseload up up 117%), behavioural disorder (caseload up 562%) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (caseload up 71%)
3) There is a sharp drop-off in receipt as young people transition to adult disability benefits, a time in their lives where, on the cusp of adulthood, a smoother transition would clearly be ideal. Iin 2023 8% of all 15 yr olds received DLA but this fell back by a quarter to 6% of all 17 yr olds receiving Personal Independence Payment - PIP). Having said that 86% of of those receiving the DLA benefit are succcessful in applying for the equvalent adult benefit PIP. .
4) The increases above mirror the trends in the number of disabled children in Great Britain overall. Over the past decade, their number has increased by more than half a million to 1.2 million in 2022-23, with more than four-fifths of this increase being children with a social or behavioural impairment.
(Note that some stats I googled suggested whilst the UK population increased by some 7% 2013-2023, the populaiton under 16 reduced -- which would make the numbers above, proportionate to the population, even worse)
5) Mental health issues may, or may not have a bearing on those with learning difficulties or behavioural disorders or ADHD.
6) In the decade before 2020 there has been a rise in mental health problems for 18-24 yr olds. The share of that age bracket with probable Common Mental Disorder (CMD), such as depression, anxiety, or a bipolar condition has risen from 24% to 34%. 41% of young women are likely to experience CMDs whereas 26% of young men of the same age are.
7) So what might be causing these increases in CMD? The February 2024 Report (Source 2) rules out shifts towards higher education. It highlights that research has identified a number of possible explanations for the recent rise in mental health for young people.
a) Covid-19 led to a sharp rise in mental health problems. This was particularly the case for young people compared to older age groups. And CMD rates among young people have remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. But trends of rising mental health problems for 18-24-year-olds predate the Covid-19 pandemic.
b) Rapid rise in social media – with the advent of problems like online bullying and those associated with excessive use.
c) Young people under increasing pressure to perform - in stressful circumstances like exams and tight deadlines during their studies and at work.
d) Austerity & cuts to vital services like health support for children and adolescents - have led to more young people growing up in poverty, or reduced the support available to young people with poor mental health. There is a large body of literature on how economic hardship can increase the risk of mental health problems (e.g. delaying financial independence and therefore a sense of control over their life).
e) Wider (very welcome) societal awareness and acceptance of mental health problems - so more comfort, and less stigma attached in reporting mental health symptoms today than in the past. (This posts author points out that not all negative feelings are mental health issues just because the person struggling with the negative feelings has self-diagnosed them as a mental health issue).
Photo credit: By @priscilladupreezbu found via unsplash.com
Sources
1) Resolution Foundation 17th August 2024 Spotlight update - Growing pressures - Exploring trends in children’s disability benefits;
2) Resolution Foundation 26th February 2024 Report - We’ve only just begun - Action to improve young people’s mental health, education and employment;
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