Data Resource Profile: The Mental Health of Children and Young People (MHCYP) 2017 and follow-up surveys

Abstract

Key features • The 2017 survey included 9117 children and young people aged 2 to 19, with data from parents, young people aged 11 or over, and teachers. Participants were recruited to represent England’s population across diverse socio-economic backgrounds, regions, and educational settings. • Follow-up waves were conducted in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. • The study collected data on mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and eating difficulties/disorders. Psychiatric disorder status was determined using the clinically rated, standardised Development and Wellbeing Assessment based on ICD-10 and DSM-5 criteria. • Data were also gathered at baseline and in the follow-up waves on family and socio-economic factors, educational outcomes, social media, and environmental influences, including the impact of COVID-19. • The follow-up waves utilised the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to estimate probable mental disorders, with additional assessments in later waves, including psychotic-like symptoms in 2022 and screening for personality disorder traits in 2023. • Data from all surveys except the 2023 wave are available through the UK Data Service (https://beta.ukdataservice.ac.uk/datacatalogue/studies/study?id=8467) for research purposes under relatively straightforward access protocols, which take a few weeks. With final confirmation from NHS England, the 2023 data will be available within a month.