New Cases of Depression and Anxiety Fall Among Young People, While ADHD Diagnoses Rise

Among children aged 10–17, new cases of depression have declined since 2021, according to the National Board of Health and Welfare.

But it is still too early to draw any conclusions, the agency says.

“We need to be careful about concluding that young people are feeling better just because fewer cases of depression and anxiety disorders are being recorded. There may be several explanations, and the trend needs to be followed closely,” says Susanne Buchmayer, a medical expert, in a press release.

At the same time, ADHD diagnoses are on the rise, especially among girls and young women. In 2025, almost 14 percent of boys and just over 9 percent of girls had an ADHD diagnosis.