More than one in three young people report mental health challenges in West Northamptonshire survey

More than a third of young people responding to a West Northamptonshire consultation reported experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges, a council strategy has revealed.

The finding is among concerns highlighted in West Northamptonshire Council's Youth Strategy for 2026 to 2030, which sets out plans to improve support and activities for younger residents.

Youth Ambassadors gathered 300 surveys and 132 comments during engagement in April 2025, speaking to young people in groups and through questionnaires.

Of those responding, 35 per cent said they had anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges, while 24 per cent reported being neurodivergent.

Mental health was also the most frequently identified area where young people wanted help, cited by 19 per cent. Careers and employment followed at 18 per cent, with bullying and schoolwork each at 15 per cent.

The report acknowledges that information about mental health support is unclear and that young people do not always know which services are available locally.

Some also identified anxiety itself as a barrier to accessing youth activities, alongside travel difficulties and lack of time.

The council says its existing youth offer is not consistently accessible across West Northamptonshire, with some services poorly connected or unavailable in certain areas.

Under the strategy, it proposes mapping mental health support and producing clearer resources, alongside a central digital youth hub bringing information together.

It also plans to develop a combined school nurse and youth worker approach for young people aged 11 to 19, extending to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Support would be available through schools, Family Hubs, community settings and the ChatHealth text service.

Young people involved in developing the strategy called for more accessible activities, safe places to meet and better mental health provision, particularly for those with additional needs.

The council intends to consult young people annually and monitor whether its services are delivering improvements.

The strategy was developed with Youth Ambassadors, Young Northants and the West Northamptonshire Youth Council, who helped identify priorities for four years.

Online bullying and appearance pressures are also identified as concerns.

The council has not set out a specific mental health funding allocation in the published strategy.