Mental health issues affect the life chances of individuals in many ways
The Facts and Figures
Bedford Giving: Mental Health in Bedford: A Research Study 2024 – 2025
“Initial research by The Harpur Trust revealed that more than 60% of young people in Bedford consider mental health to be a “massive challenge.”
Other analyses support this: the Thriving Places Index1 identifies mental health as a distinct area of weakness for Bedford due to the prevalence of depression and long-term mental health conditions.
Government data shows that since 2019, Bedford’s suicide rate has risen consistently and is now well above the national average. National research also reflects a similar pattern of issues and there are approximately 43,000 people aged 0-17 in Bedford, and around 19,000 aged 10-17 (10% of Bedford’s population). If we assume that mental health issues are no more or less common in Bedford than elsewhere in England, we can estimate that around 3,800 people aged 10-17 in Bedford require support.”
In the direct consultations with local young people undertaken by Bedford Giving as part of the above research several young people specifically mentioned Bedfordshire Open Door as a positive service in the local landscape of mental health provision.