𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Britain is a “global leader in family breakdown” with devastating consequences for mental health, a leading think tank has warned.

Young people whose families break-up before they reach the age of 18 are nearly twice as likely to suffer from mental ill-health, according to the Centre for Social Justice.

It argues that securing “stronger families” is key to improving mental health across the nation.

The CSJ notes that marriage rates have declined in England and Wales from 30.1 per 1,000 men and 25.9 per 1,000 women in 2000 to 20.3 and 18.3 in 2022, respectively.

Researchers are alarmed that “a fifth of children aged eight to 16 have a probable mental health disorder, up from 12.5% in 2017”.

The Government’s own study in 2023 found that nearly eight out of 10 people said “social and family relationships” were the biggest impact on their mental health.

A key worry is that many parents are themselves suffering from poor mental health. The think tank reports that “68% of women and 57% of men who have mental ill-health are parents”.

It warns that men have a higher risk of suicide in the ages “typically associated with becoming a parent” – reaching 22.4 per 100,000 men aged 45 to 64 in 2023. The CSJ recommends that mental health screening is offered to the partners of mothers six to eight weeks after birth.

There is also deep concern at a major increase in domestic abuse. The number of domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in England and Wales soared by 14.4% between 2019-20 and 2022-23.

Sophia Worringer, deputy policy director at the CSJ, said: “The natural structures that enable good mental health have been slowly eroded. A stable family is one of the strongest positive influences for children and young adults.

“If we truly wish to end the rising tide of the mental health epidemic, we must provide young people with the best possible start to life.”

She argues that “handing out prescriptions and drugs” is not the solution and it is “crucial” that issues such as “family breakdown, trauma, education, debt and housing” are addressed.

Chris Hickford, chief executive of Eikon – a charity which works with young people, described to the CSJ the challenges mothers and fathers often face.

“We see families under intense pressure – both parents having to work long hours and sometimes multiple jobs, to make ends meet They are time and attention-poor, exhausted, stressed and often not managing these pressures in a healthy way – leading to health problems, addictions, debt, etc.

“This often impacts on the love and care that their children experience.”

The CSJ points to research showing that nearly nine out of 10 single parents experienced anxiety, compared to just over seven out of 10 of the general population – with four out of 10 saying “financial security” would improve their anxiety.

A Government spokesman said: “We are taking action to ensure mental health gets the same attention and focus as physical health, and to give more people greater say over their care at every stage of their lives.

“Through our plan for change, this government is cutting waiting times, investing in Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes to give children the best start in life. We are also recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health professionals to provide faster treatment and providing access to a mental health professional in every school.”