The Policy Institute at King's · 2024
This report presents findings from parallel online surveys of adults in the UK and Australia, exploring public and generational attitudes towards youth mental health. It finds that large majorities in both countries believe young people's mental health is worse today than in the past, though nearly two-thirds are sceptical that this reflects genuinely worsening circumstances — attributing it instead to better identification of problems or lower resilience among today's youth. Social media is identified as the most widely cited driver of worsening youth mental health, and policies focused on direct support (more mental health services, anti-bullying measures) are preferred over structural interventions such as tackling racism or housing insecurity.