Photo by Engin Akyurt
New research from the University of Essex reveals that young people aged 16–25 in England’s most deprived coastal towns are three times more likely to struggle with undiagnosed mental health conditions compared to their inland peers. This “coastal mental health gap” was uncovered through analysis of data spanning 2018 to 2023, covering 28,000 adults across the country.
Coastal towns such as Blackpool, Liverpool, and Tendring face compounded challenges—economic hardship, poor housing, limited education and job opportunities, and weakened public services. These factors are exacerbated by geographic isolation and a reliance on private rentals, leaving young residents particularly vulnerable. In contrast, older people in the same areas were actually found to be less likely to have undiagnosed issues than comparable inland groups.
UCL research reinforces these findings, highlighting how systematic neglect and lack of investment in youth services intensify mental health issues among coastal teens. Experts argue for sustained, place-based funding, local decision-making, and active youth engagement to address the crisis.
Stories from the ground illustrate the struggle. In Weston-super-Mare, 21‑year‑old Ceilidh describes the contrast between tourist-facing seafront improvements and “potholes everywhere… mould in many of the houses.” And in Southend, 20‑year‑old Levi laments the town’s decline: “seeing how many places have closed down… I couldn’t imagine wanting to bring up children here.”
The Guardian’s “Against the Tide” series will amplify these voices over the next year through documentary photography and reporting across coastal communities. Its goal is to spotlight the changes needed—including improved transport, housing, education, employment, and youth services—to create sustainable futures for these young residents.
Professor Emily Murray of Essex’s Centre for Coastal Communities emphasises the urgency: “We don’t yet know why these young people are being left out… but they are not having their voices heard.” She points to stark contrasts: older residents actually fare better mentally than inland counterparts. Geographical remoteness, low incomes, and substandard housing are key contributors to this entrenched inequality.
As coastal towns face long-term decline in traditional industries and shrinking public services, researchers and local advocates stress the need for a national strategy that specifically tackles coastal youth disadvantage—with youth-led planning at its heart.