Pandemic sinks UK youth mental health to new low

The Prince's Trust Youth Index measures the happiness and confidence of 16 to 25-year-olds in the UK on a range of life issues. A key focus of which is mental health, or 'emotional health' as referred to in the annual survey. As this infographic shows, happiness with this aspect of their lives has fallen considerably over the last few years and the latest result is the lowest since the research began.

Key to this situation in 2020, according to the research, is the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown restrictions. Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive at the Prince’s Trust said: "The pandemic has taken a devastating toll on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. They face a disrupted education, a shrinking jobs market and isolation from their friends and loved ones, and as a result, too many are losing all hope for the future."

Of those surveyed, 26 percent said they have felt "unable to cope with life" since the start of the pandemic, while this increases to 40 percent for those not in work, education or training. Half of all respondents reported their mental health to have worsened during this period.