2024-25 Director of Public Health annual report
A stitch in time: Supporting the mental wellbeing of young people
Good mental health is essential for leading healthy, fulfilling lives. Unfortunately, we've seen an unprecedented increase in referrals to mental health services.
In 2023, one in five young people in Oxfordshire had mental health problems, and the demand for services is rising.
Consequences of poor mental health in children and young people
Poor mental health in children and young people leads to many negative consequences. It reduces sleep quality, increases risk of harm, and causes substance misuse. It also creates challenges at school and issues later in life. Additionally, it drives economic inactivity among young people. Which is a significant national issue and a key focus of this report.
Impact of unemployment and mental health
Unemployment or working in poor-quality jobs causes financial strain. It increases stress and heightens the risk of mental health problems like depression. In turn, mental health problems can significantly impact a person's capacity to find and maintain employment.
Mental health among working-age people is critical to economic growth. It is particularly important as an ageing population and rising levels of chronic conditions are forecast to increase.
Mental health, like physical health, can vary daily; this is a normal part of life. Young people must have the right tools to deal with this. By enabling them to build their resilience, deal with day-to-day challenges of life, and realise their potential.
Connected strategy
Our report highlights the importance of good mental health. It emphasises the need to change attitudes to meet the needs of children and young people. It also outlines how we can achieve this.
Oxfordshire's needs in the upcoming decades will vary widely. We must map the skills and roles required to meet these needs.