Young women in England are facing a growing mental health crisis, with services failing to meet their needs, according to a new report by the Centre for Mental Health, commissioned by the Pilgrim Trust
The Empowering Minds report reveals that more than 30% of young women aged 17–25 have a mental health problem, the highest rate for any age group in England. Rates have worsened dramatically over the past decade, driven by factors such as male violence, discrimination, financial pressures, societal expectations, and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report evaluates the Young Women in Mind programme, an innovative initiative by the Pilgrim Trust that has supported over 3,000 young women through community-based projects across the north of England and Northern Ireland. These projects provide trauma-informed, tailored support, including safe women-only spaces, one-to-one counselling, creative therapies, and peer support.
The findings show that targeted support improves confidence, self-esteem, and wellbeing, particularly for racialised, LGBTQ+ and refugee young women, and those who have experienced sexual violence or domestic abuse.
The report calls for urgent action:
- Government to protect young women’s mental health
- NHS to invest in tailored, trauma-informed services in safe spaces
- Young women to be involved in designing services that work for them
Centre for Mental Health Chief Executive Andy Bell commented:
“Young women’s mental health has declined steeply over the last decade, with double the rate of a common mental health problem than young men. This is a stark health inequality and the product of deeply rooted injustice. The Pilgrim Trust’s Young Women in Mind programme has shown what can be achieved when young women’s needs are understood and prioritised. This must lead to change in health and care systems nationwide.”
Without these changes, the report warns, young women will continue to be let down by a system that does not meet their needs.
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