Children with mental health issues are facing long-term health conditions and employment barriers, says new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

The study found that one in five children in the UK are currently struggling with mental health problems, and those with severe mental and behavioural issues are 68% more likely to experience long-term health issues that hinder them from working.

Researchers also revealed that children struggling with severe mental or behavioural concerns are nearly twice as likely to develop depressive symptoms in their later years.

Those with physical ailments in their early life are equally likely to encounter long-term issues, according to the IPPR report, which states that children with physical health issues face a 38% probability of having a reduced ability to work in mid-life.

The IPPR’s research follows the recent Children’s Commissioner report on the overwhelming number of children’s mental health referrals between 2022 and 2023.

According to the Children’s Commissioner data, 270,300 of the 949,200 children referred between 2022 and 2023 are still waiting to access treatment, and 40,000 children seeking mental health support are currently encountering waiting periods of least two years, with many reaching crisis point soon after being referred.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: ‘For children and young people two years can be a significant portion of their young lives, so the long waiting times experienced by some children in this report can feel agonisingly long.’

Emphasising the strain of untreated mental health issues on public health and council services, the IPPR has urged the Government to invest in preventative measures and ‘high-impact, cost saving interventions’ to address the crisis.

Amy Gandon, IPPR associate fellow and former senior DHSC official on children's health, commented: ‘If this government is serious about building a preventative state, it must act decisively to improve the prospects of our children and young people.’

Olly Parker, head of external affairs at YoungMinds, added: ‘In the upcoming Spending Review, the Government has an opportunity to show they are ambitious about young people and their mental health. They must prioritise investment and reform, with a particular focus on prevention and early intervention – such as through the national rollout of early support hubs.’