Long waiting lists, repeated referrals and limited choice have left many young people feeling dismissed, burdensome and unsupported by a fragmented mental health and wellbeing support system, according to Pushed from pillar to post, a new report which captures insights from Gen Z.
The report highlights the urgent need for future research, policy and practice to address the gap between what young people need and what current systems can provide. It also reiterates the need to rebuild the social, educational and support infrastructures that help young people feel stable, connected and valued.
Commissioned by the Nuffield Foundation, the report includes a wide range of insights gathered from diverse groups of young people in a series of workshops held across the UK by Hopkins Van Mil (HVM), a specialist social research agency.
Experiences described in the workshops reflect the unique challenges Gen Z face. Economic uncertainty threatens their sense of security, lives lived online can perpetuate the isolation many still feel post-pandemic, and the strain public services are under makes them feel society is not there to protect or provide opportunities for them. Some young people also reported their mental health is worsened by the current system, rather than improved.
One participant from Scotland said: “I was on the CAMHS waiting list for five years….. I got an appointment finally two weeks before my 18th birthday and then by the time I had got my third session, I was too old for the system. So then I had to just go on to my GP and they just put me on medication.”
One participant from Northern Ireland said: “In high school we had one therapist for thousands of kids. That was it which frankly just wasn’t enough.”
Another participant from Ealing said: “You’re kind of pushed down certain paths, even if they are not suitable for you.”
The report is part of the Nuffield Foundation’s Grown Up? Journeys to Adulthood programme which launched in summer 2024 and explores how young people aged 14 to 24 are making the journey to adulthood and what this means for policy research and wider society. It aims to fill the gaps that exist in understanding how Gen Z is experiencing this phase of life and how policies and systems can better support them. Through detailed conversations with young people, it is clear the Covid-19 pandemic is still very present in the minds of many participants who explain that recurrent lockdowns broke their social confidence and plunged some into a mentally and physically unhealthy online life from which they find it hard to escape.
Support is found in friendships with education providing an environment where these can be nurtured. However, education systems can present their own challenges with many built around neurotypical norms with missed opportunities for support with various conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism.
The report also provides some positive insights, for example youth clubs and community-based services can be a lifeline. A participant from Ealing said: “I found a charity youth group near me and it’s changed my life…it’s been a godsend to have somewhere that I can go regularly that I don’t necessarily have to pay for. But I know it’s not available to everyone, for me personally it’s an LGBT charity.”
Another from Northern Ireland said: “I’m with a programme called New Horizons, I truly cannot say this enough but it is just like a big family, which is something that I lack. They’re very helpful and they’re supportive, They’ve helped me build my confidence and meet new people and put myself into situations that I wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t been there. The only downfall is you have to be referred from your mental health key worker or your GP”.
The report found that young people consistently articulated five core principles that underpin good mental health and wellbeing. These are:
- Stability and security
- Community
- Time to rest, reflect and build trust with support services
- Knowledge through clear accessible information about mental health and how to navigate systems
- Time outdoors for an important counterbalance to digital life.
Young people also suggested recommendations on how to rebuild community and prioritise relationships. These included:
- The creation of affordable, accessible third spaces and activities where young people can spend time together away from screens
- Expand peer-to-peer support and mental health education in schools
- Increase funding for early intervention across schools, health services and community organisations
- Ensure healthcare interactions prioritise empathy, listening and continuity of care over quick fixes
- Provide comprehensive neurodivergence training for all teaching staff and speed up assessment processes
- Open university support services and societies to non-students in local areas.
Through our work on the Grown up? project, we have heard from some brilliant young people who have generously given an insight into their lives. The topic of mental health is particularly pertinent as Gen Z faces some unique challenges. The support systems currently in place are under severe strain and radical reform is urgently needed. Alongside the difficulties, we also heard about life-changing support provided by some community- based youth clubs. Young people are clear about what they need – they want early intervention across services, more places for social connection and for an empathic ear to listen to them. However, it is encouraging to see there are opportunities to reshape the current system. The review led by Alan Milburn is exploring reasons behind youth inactivity in relation to work and further education, including mental health difficulties. The current consultation on a possible social media ban for teenagers in the UK provides an opportunity to look at a range of approaches to protecting young people from harms, while also enabling the benefits of digital technology. Young people are well aware that social media can exacerbate any mental health conditions but it can also be a valuable form of connection and information so a nuanced approach should inform the outcome. Young people should also be at the heart of any future proposals as their voices are essential to the process.Carey Oppenheim, Strategic Project Lead at Nuffield Foundation
As researchers, we were struck by the depth of young people’s empathy and understanding for one another, as well as for the mental health professionals supporting them under challenging circumstances. Their experiences reveal a shocking lack of opportunities to spend time together and to both give and receive the support and sense of community they need to feel happy and well. Their stories also show how limited capacity within formal mental health systems undermines the human relationships that form the foundation of effective support. The recommendations made by the young people are clear and consistently highlight the enormous potential for improvement if empathy, community and human relationships are valued and prioritised.Pauline Harris, Senior Project Co-lead at Hopkins Van Mil
The full report can be read here.
As part of the Grown up programme, two intersecting research and engagement projects were carried out with young people during the course of 2024 to 2025. The first was a Youth Insight Group made up of 20 young people aged between 14 to 24 who have met in-person or online. In addition, a further 80 young people participated in place-based Deep Dive workshops on: education to work transitions, digital lives and mental health and wellbeing. The findings from the Deep Dive Workshops into education to work and digital lives have already been published and can be found here and here.
Recent research shows that mental health conditions in young people are on the rise. One in four young people aged between 16 and 24 had a probable mental health condition in 2023/24 compared to one in six in 2007 (AMHS 2025).
Hopkins Van Mil co-designed the engagement process working with YIG members. They ensured the young people involved in the Deep Dive Workshops were supported to share their views meaningfully by creating safe and trusted spaces for reflection. For more information please visit here
