The report, titled The New Childhood: Mental Health in a Connected Age, was formally launched at an event hosted by MHI at the Bank of England. Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), and policy fellow Dr Chris Agape Ajah, presented the findings and discussed Imperial's collaboration with MHI.
The event, themed “Growing Well in a Connected Age: Reimagining Mental Health Support for Children Under 13”, focused on recent research into the mental health needs of this age group. Dr Chris Agape Ajah, the report's lead author, emphasised the critical need for better support, stating, “The NHS reports that one in five children aged 8 to 16 have a probable mental health disorder and over half of all mental health challenges begin before the age of 14. But there is currently no mental health service designed specifically for this age group.”
“"If we are serious about improving mental health across a person's lifetime, we have to be serious about early intervention. This is precisely where charities like Mental Health Innovations do something that more traditional institutions often struggle to do: they innovate."
Professor the Lord Ara Darzi stressed the importance of early intervention, stating, “If we are serious about improving mental health across a person's lifetime, we have to be serious about early intervention. That means engaging with children long before they reach the services that were, frankly, designed with teenagers and adults in mind.” He added that charities like MHI are crucial for their innovative approaches, which often surpass traditional institutions.
Discussions at the event also covered the transition period from childhood to adolescence and the necessity for dedicated digital support for 10-13 year olds. Key recommendations from the IGHI report include recognising younger children as a distinct group, providing earlier support through tools they will use in schools and digital spaces, and equipping adults to better support children.
The Centre for Health Policy is part of Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation.
