Data resource profile: the mental health of children and young people (MHCYP) 2017 and follow-up surveys.

The MHCYP 2017 baseline survey included 9117 children and young people aged 2 to 19 years in England.

• The sample was designed to be population-representative of children and young people in England.
• Information was collected from parents or carers, and for those aged 11 years or over, directly from the young people themselves, as well as from teachers.
• The baseline assessment used the standardised Development and Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA), based on ICD-10 and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.

The MHCYP 2017 survey was followed by four subsequent waves conducted in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

• The subsequent waves measured mental health difficulties using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), rather than the DAWBA used at baseline.
• The follow-up waves provided longitudinal data on mental health, social situation, and activities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Together, the baseline and follow-up surveys provide both cross-sectional and longitudinal data on child and adolescent mental health.

The MHCYP 2017 survey and follow-ups cover a range of mental health disorders including eating disorders, attention and hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety.

• The dataset encompasses mental health disorders and difficulties from eating disorders and attention and hyperactivity disorder to depression and anxiety.
• The surveys also include data on associated difficulties and comorbidities.
• Links with socio-economic factors can be explored using this dataset.

The MHCYP 2017 survey builds on earlier UK representative surveys conducted in 1999 and 2004, enabling trend analysis across decades.

• Together with the 1999 and 2004 surveys, the dataset offers a unique opportunity to investigate trends in mental health disorders among young people.
• The combined dataset spans from 1999 to 2023, allowing for long-term trend analysis.
• The surveys collectively allow assessment of associated difficulties, comorbidities, and links with socio-economic factors over time.