Children and young people: mental health and wellbeing

Data on children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing are available from the following sources:

• ScotPHO profiles (national and local level):
  • Deaths by probable suicide of 11-25 year olds.
  • S2 or S4 boys/girls with conduct problems, emotional and behavioural problems, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, or pro-social behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire).
• Scottish Government National Performance Framework indicators:
  • Child wellbeing and happiness: percentage of 4 to 12 year olds who have a “borderline” or “abnormal” score on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Scottish Health Survey).
  • Children’s voices: percentage of young people who feel adults take their views into account.
  • Children have positive relationships: percentage reporting three or more close friends.
• Surveys:
  • Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) (last collected 2022)
  • Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS), now replaced with the Health and Wellbeing Census
  • TeenCovidLife Survey (2020 and 2021)
  • COVID-19 Early Years Resilience and Impact Survey (CEYRIS): a survey conducted by Public Health Scotland to help understand the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on mental health and wellbeing in the early years.

Public Health Scotland has developed a set of mental health indicators for children and young people. Data for the indicators will be published on the ScotPHO online profiles tool in 2025 and then regularly updated.

The Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory publishes evidence about the causes of poor health and health inequalities experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.