YoungMinds

New research released  on Wednesday 5 February 2025 warns that the mental health crisis facing children and young people will prevent the Government from its mission of boosting economic growth and productivity as well as impacting the lives of thousands of young people. The research estimates that the long-term impact of mental health problems in childhood now costs the UK over £1 trillion in lifetime lost earnings.

The research is published as part of the launch of a new campaign bringing together four of the UK’s leading children and young people’s and mental health organisations – Centre for Mental Health, Centre for Young Lives, the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition, and YoungMinds, with the support of the Prudence Trust – which is urging the Government to deliver urgent reform and investment to boost children’s mental health services in its forthcoming Spending Review and 10 Year NHS Plan.

Find out more about the campaign on our website: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/future-minds-campaign-launches/.

Alfie Watts has become the latest Ambassador for YoungMinds, the UK’s leading charity for children and young people’s mental health.

The 21-year-old is no stranger to the pressures that young people face having struggled with his mental health after the loss of his mother at a young age. During this time, Alfie found school particularly hard until an opportunity to become a European football scout became available, something that he went onto love.

Working with YoungMinds, Alfie wants to speak directly to young men and show them that they are not alone with their mental health. Young men still face stigma with their mental health and he hopes that by sharing his journey, others will see that hope and help is out there.