One in 12 young people have poor mental health

English subtitles available

Across the board, the health condition of young people is similar to ten years previously. The answer to the question ‘How is your health in general?’ was positive among 91 percent of the respondents in 2015/2017. This is not significantly higher than ten years previously. In terms of mental health, there was a marked difference with one decade ago.

Older youth more likely to suffer from poor mental health

Girls are relatively more often mentally unhealthy than boys, with respective shares of 11 and 6 percent. Poor mental health is also more common among 18 to 24-year-olds than among 12 to 17-year-olds, and more prevalent among young people with a western migration background than among those with a native Dutch background. Similar differences between mental health conditions by background characteristics were seen ten years previously.

Many mentally unhealthy young people less healthy overall

Of the young people with poor mental health, 65 percent perceived their own health as less than good. The lion’s share of mentally healthy young people does refer to their own health as good (93 percent). This pattern has barely changed over the past ten years.

Depression most common disorder among mentally unhealthy youth

Mentally unhealthy young people report more long-term disorders than their mentally healthy peers. In 2015/2017, over one-third of mentally unhealthy young people reported having suffered from a depression. Furthermore, they were more likely than mentally healthy young people to have suffered from migraine or severe headaches, allergies, dizziness with falls, or back conditions.

Do you need help?
You can call 113 Suicide prevention at 0900 0113 (available 24/7) or go to www.113.nl/english.