BPS responds to Nacro report which found media coverage on young people twice as likely to be negative than positive

Responding to Nacro's new report which found that media coverage of young people twice as likely to be negative than positive, Chair of the British Psychological Society's Faculty for Children, Young People & their Families Dr Rachel Bradley said: 

"The report highlights the potentially damaging effect of negative news stories in the media on young people's sense of self and emotional wellbeing. Negative media coverage may be a contributing factor in the rise in the number of young people experiencing mental health difficulties.

"Around one in five children and young people in England now have a mental health problem, but an increased demand coupled with insufficient funding means that many young people are unable to access the services they need or face long waiting times. Young people with mental health difficulties are more likely to struggle to attend school and achieve qualifications, but news stories often seem to blame young people for this. 

"We urge the government to put more resources into mental health services for young people but also into addressing the wider factors contributing to their poor mental health. These include financial hardship and housing issues, limited local authority support for families and parental mental health difficulties. A Child Health and Wellbeing strategy, which puts children and young people at the heart of policy making, would go a long way to achieving this."

Nacro's report found: 

• Media coverage on young people is twice as likely to be negative (28%) than positive (14%).
• There was consistent negative framing about under 25s in media coverage through the past year, labelling them as lazy, weak, selfish and dangerous.
• Over a quarter (27%) of young people surveyed by Nacro said they usually or always feel lonely.
• Nearly a quarter (24%) young people said they rarely or never feel good about themselves.
• More than one in five (22%) said they have been a victim of crime, but only 35% said they trusted the police
• Only one in five (20%) thought that their generation would have a better life than the previous one.
• Nearly a third (30%) said they are often or always hopeful for the future.
• Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they feel people who run the country never or rarely listen to them or people living a similar life to them. Over two-thirds (69%) also say that politicians never or rarely talk about things that matter to them.