The State of Student Mental Health in England: From Prevalence to Practical Prevention

Why it matters: Wellbeing and learning are inseparable. Anxiety, low mood and eating difficulties don’t just affect happiness—they shape attendance, behaviour and attainment.

What the data says (2023–2025):

• Around 1 in 5 children and young people in England had a probable mental disorder in 2023 (20.3% among 8–16s; 23.3% among 17–19s). After big rises from 2017–2020, rates stabilised between 2022 and 2023—high, but not rising. NHS England Digital+2NHS England Digital+2

• Absence and mental health are intertwined: overall absence in 2023/24 was 7.1%, and persistent absence hit 20%—one in five pupils missing 10%+ of sessions. Anxiety and school avoidance feature frequently in casework. explore-education-statistics.service.gov.ukGOV.UK

What schools can do now:

• Triage early: brief screeners (e.g., SDQ-style approaches) during transition points; track known risk triggers (attendance dips, friendship breakdowns).

• Whole-school literacy: embed mental health vocabulary in tutor time/PSHE; normalise help-seeking.

• Targeted small-group work: evidence-informed CBT-style programmes for anxiety and low mood; add attendance-linked support plans to counter avoidance (safe arrival, meet & greet, stepwise exposure).

• Staff upskilling: short, practical training on low-arousal de-escalation and anxiety accommodations (predictable routines, reduced unknowns).

• Data integrations: cross-reference behaviour, safeguarding and attendance weekly; trigger pastoral review at 5 consecutive late marks or two same-day exits.

What to watch (policy): Government focus on attendance & behaviour hubs and disciplined classrooms could help, but schools will still need in-house early intervention and clear referral pathways to CAMHS/ MHSTs.