One in three teenage girls now suffer anxiety or depression – as a ‘slow growing epidemic’ of mental illness strikes schools. The Department of Education study of 30,000 pupils found that the number of girls suffering from anxiety or depression had risen 10% in the past decade. Experts described the figures as evidence of a ‘slow growing epidemic’ of mental health disorders. Experts have suggested that factors such as uncertainty caused by the recession, or the pressure of social media, could be behind the rise. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with youngsters aged 14 and 15. The researchers found that drug-taking and drinking alcohol had dropped among the teenagers – with only 12% saying they drank alcohol, compared to 30% in 2005. Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: ‘There definitely does seem to be something happening – it’s a slow growing epidemic.’
