1. NHS England – “Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 (Wave 4)”

• In 2023, about 1 in 5 children & young people aged 8-25 years in England had a “probable mental disorder”. Specifically: 20.3% (8-16yrs), 23.3% (17-19yrs), 21.7% (20-25yrs). NHS England Digital+1
• The report says that after a rise from 2017 to 2020, rates remained stable between 2022-2023. NHS England+1
• Also, among 17-25 year olds, rates were twice as high for young women compared to young men. NHS England Digital+1
• The report links probable mental disorder to socioeconomic burdens: e.g., 17-25 year olds with a probable disorder were 3× more likely to be unable to afford social activities. NHS England Digital
• This is a key UK data-point showing high prevalence, though not purely “anxiety”; it covers broader disorders.

2. Centre for Mental Health – “Mapping the Mental Health of the UK’s Young People” (2024)

• Analysis shows among 8-16 year-olds in England in 2023: 198 in 1,000 had a mental health difficulty (i.e., ~19.8%) — up from 185 in 2022. Centre for Mental Health
• For the 17-19 age‐group: 316 out of 1,000 young people (~31.6%) had a mental health difficulty in 2023—versus 134 per 1,000 (~13.4%) in 2017. Centre for Mental Health
• This shows a substantial increase for older teens/young adults over ~6 years (2017 → 2023) in the UK.
• Also covers correlates: loneliness, bullying, school absence associated with higher distress. Centre for Mental Health
• Good breakdown by age and shows rise in difficulties (including anxiety) though again not purely anxiety diagnosis.

3. Youth Futures Foundation (England) – “Understanding drivers of recent trends in young people’s mental health” (July 2025)

• Reports that the proportion of young adults (16-24) with a “common mental health condition” rose from ~19% in 2014 → ~26% in 2023/24. Youth Futures Foundation
• States that “these recent trends towards poorer mental health among young people are not confined to England … observed across multiple continents.” Youth Futures Foundation
• Notes rising rates of prescriptions, disability claims, specialist referrals for under-18s (~1 in 12 under-18s had active referral in 2022-23). Youth Futures Foundation
• This source adds drivers/context (e.g., socio-economic, digital media, climate anxiety) and breakouts by age.
• Useful for understanding not just “are things worse” but “what might be affecting” anxiety and mental health in youth.

4. Mental Health Foundation – Anxiety statistics (UK)

• Reports: In 2022/23, average of 37.1% of women and 29.9% of men reported high levels of anxiety. Mental Health Foundation
• Compared to data from 2012-15: women 21.8% → 37.1%; men 18.3% → 29.9%. So a clear increase over ~10 years. Mental Health Foundation
• Also: younger people (16-29 years) are the age group most likely to have some form of anxiety (28% in 2021) vs older groups. Mental Health Foundation
• This gives age‐specific (younger vs older) and trend‐over‐time numbers for anxiety (not just general distress).
• Very useful to show that young people now have higher anxiety levels than before, and higher than older age groups.

5. Global/International study – “Rising global burden of anxiety disorders among adolescents … 1990-2021”

• This study is a few years old now but puts UK/Europe data in global context
• Among those aged 10-24 years globally, incidence of anxiety disorders increased by ~52% between 1990 and 2021. PMC
• Shows that the rise is not limited to one country but is a broad international pattern, especially in younger ages.
• This complements UK/Europe data by placing it in global context.
• Though not all anxiety is broken down into “young people” vs older, it shows a large increase in adolescents.