There has been a “substantial upward trend” of young people with depressive symptoms, Growing Up In Ireland’s latest report has warned. 

The study by the Department of Children follows a group of young people through their lives, asking them about the impact of a wide range of issues to provide officials with robust data to shape policy. 

This year’s survey hears from children who were born in 2008.

It finds that they are more than twice as likely to be ‘at risk’ of depression than the children that born ten years before them.

When Cohort ‘98 filled out a ‘Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire’ at 13, only 16% were judged to be ‘at risk’ but for Cohort ‘08 the figure grew to more than double at 32%. 

There was also a significant gender gap in the results, with 19% of boys meeting the threshold compared to 45% of girls. 

Children from single parent families were also more likely to be at risk (42%) compared to two parent families (29%). 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, parenting expert Sheila O’Malley said people born in 2008 “have been through a lot” in their short lives and suggested the world needs more “hope”. 

“Reading the Irish Times on Saturday used to be something I found pleasurable,” she said. 

“I don’t find [that] anymore, it appears to be wall to wall horror stories. 

“So, if I’m finding that, you can imagine the impact it has on a younger mind.” 

Thanks to everyone who took part in yesterday’s Growing Up in Ireland event on adolescence, esp. Minister Colm Burke @ColmBurkeTD and Meath Comhairle na nÓg @MeathComhairle pictured here. Links to the report and presentation available here https://t.co/CVwc1X0CUG pic.twitter.com/TTEIrn0B9i

— GrowingUpinIreland (@GrowingUpIre) June 21, 2024

Ms O’Malley believes much of the blame lies with how social media has distorted the way in which people see the world around them. 

“Particularly girls, they have these unattainable images and they’re looking at thousands and thousands of disturbing material,” she said. 

“[There are] comparisons, ‘I’ll never be like her’. 

“It’s interesting [this cohort was born] back in ‘08 which is, I think, the advent of the iPhone and they say consistently that wellbeing is moving, year on year, in a negative direction.” 

Earlier this week, the US Surgeon General proposed that social media companies carry health warnings amid concern about the rising number of mental health problems among young people. 

Irish family psychotherapist Dr Richard Hogan praised the intervention and said social media is having a “devastating impact” on his patients.

Smoking, vaping and drinking

The report also found that 3% of 13-years-old had tried smoking; however, children with a parent who smoked were significantly more likely to have tried - 6% compared to only 2% of the children of non-smokers.

Significantly more young people had tried vaping, 9%, and 12% had drunk alcohol.

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Main image: A depressed teenager. Picture by: Alamy.com