🧠 Mental Health Trends in Young People During the Pandemic

August 24 2025 What a UK study found about ADHD, anxiety, depression, and medication

📌 Why this study was done

Doctors and families have worried about young people’s mental health—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study looked at over 12 million children and young adults (ages 1–24) in the UK to see how often doctors:

The researchers compared the years before the pandemic (2010–2020) with the first 2 years after it began (2020–2022).

ADHD diagnoses in females rose 25% higher than expected.
The biggest jump was in women ages 20–24 (about 160% higher than expected!) and ages 17–19 (about 50% higher).
Prescriptions for ADHD medication also increased for females.
Most of this increase was seen in less deprived (wealthier) areas.

ADHD diagnoses in males actually fell by about 17% compared to what was expected.
ADHD medication prescribing for boys also went down.

Depression: down 48% in boys, down 32% in girls.
Anxiety: down 41% in boys, down 34% in girls.
Autism, substance misuse, and personality disorders: all stayed lower or close to expected levels.

Prescriptions for antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, and antipsychotics dropped compared to expected.
The only rise was ADHD medication for young women.

The researchers think a few things could explain it:

ADHD awareness exploded, especially on social media (like TikTok). This made more young women realize they might have ADHD.
Access to care got harder during the pandemic (fewer GP visits, long waiting lists, remote appointments). This may explain why other conditions like depression and anxiety were diagnosed less.
Families with more money may have turned to private ADHD clinics, boosting diagnoses in wealthier groups.
Some young people may now describe their struggles through the neurodiversity lens (like ADHD) rather than as “anxiety” or “depression.”

August 24 2025 What a UK study found about ADHD, anxiety, depression, and medication

Doctors and families have worried about young people’s mental health—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study looked at over 12 million children and young adults (ages 1–24) in the UK to see how often doctors:

The researchers compared the years before the pandemic (2010–2020) with the first 2 years after it began (2020–2022).

ADHD diagnoses in females rose 25% higher than expected.
The biggest jump was in women ages 20–24 (about 160% higher than expected!) and ages 17–19 (about 50% higher).
Prescriptions for ADHD medication also increased for females.
Most of this increase was seen in less deprived (wealthier) areas.

ADHD diagnoses in males actually fell by about 17% compared to what was expected.
ADHD medication prescribing for boys also went down.

Depression: down 48% in boys, down 32% in girls.
Anxiety: down 41% in boys, down 34% in girls.
Autism, substance misuse, and personality disorders: all stayed lower or close to expected levels.

Prescriptions for antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, and antipsychotics dropped compared to expected.
The only rise was ADHD medication for young women.

The researchers think a few things could explain it:

ADHD awareness exploded, especially on social media (like TikTok). This made more young women realize they might have ADHD.
Access to care got harder during the pandemic (fewer GP visits, long waiting lists, remote appointments). This may explain why other conditions like depression and anxiety were diagnosed less.
Families with more money may have turned to private ADHD clinics, boosting diagnoses in wealthier groups.
Some young people may now describe their struggles through the neurodiversity lens (like ADHD) rather than as “anxiety” or “depression.”