Health Inequality and Access to Justice: Young People, Mental Health and Legal Issues

This report presents findings from new analysis of English and Welsh Civil and Social Justice Panel Survey (CSJPS) data, of the relationship between mental illness and social disadvantage among young people, with a particular focus on the experience of those facing legal issues. The findings indicate that while young people, in general, are least likely to experience mental illness those not in education, employment or training (NEETs) are far more likely to do so than other young people, and somewhat more likely than those aged 25 to 59. The findings also indicate that the experience of social welfare related legal issues (and legal issues in the round) is associated with higher rates of mental illness. Importantly, the report finds that NEET’s who experience legal issues are associated with particularly high rates of mental illness.