The latest figures on mental health and wellbeing, which have been released by the Office for National Statistics, have revealed that almost one in five young people are coping with high levels of anxiety.

7.5 million young people aged 16 to 24 across the UK were included in the survey.

While almost 75 per cent of respondents said that they were either “happy” or “very happy”, the number of young people not content with their personal health has caused medical experts to express their concerns.

In a separate results measure, it was stated that 21 per cent of young people also demonstrated “evidence indicating depression or anxiety”.

Alongside the other information released, the ONS took the step of publishing figures relating to younger children, and it was revealed that approximately one in eight of those aged between 10 and 15 reported symptoms linked to mental health problems.

Mental health issues are becoming an ever-increasing issue for the UK, and recent media coverage has been dedicated to showing the problem among university students.

Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor at the University of Buckingham, has made calls for universities to be more proactive in tackling the issue.

Mr Seldon said: “We have a crisis, which is growing each year, in student mental health in our universities. I am not blaming the universities, but things must now change quickly before more avoidable misery is spread, and more lives lost.

“There is excellent practice in some areas in some universities, but the sector overall needs to rise quickly to their example.”

Anxiety UK, the national charity for stress and anxiety, will be publishing a new guide to offer guidance to students, in a bid to help reduce the number of cases in which people are affected.