Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, depressive symptoms increased and life satisfaction decreased among secondary school children in England, particularly among girls, reports a new study led by UCL researchers.

The researchers say the increase will have led to approximately 60,000 more secondary school students whose depressive symptoms would surpass a clinical threshold, adding further strain to young people's mental health services.

The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, compared two groups of adolescents over two separate 1.5-year periods just before, and during, the pandemic.

Corresponding author Dr. Praveetha Patalay (UCL Center for Longitudinal Studies and MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Aging at UCL) said: "Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there had been widespread concern about rising mental health difficulties among adolescents.

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