More than a third of young Spaniards (34.7%) report having harmed themselves at some point, and 16.5% do so frequently. This is revealed by Youth, Health and Wellbeing Barometer 2025published this Thursday, in which minors are asked if they have intentionally harmed themselves and give the example of “scratches or cuts on the arms”, burns or hair pulling. The report, which has been collecting the evolution of the physical and mental health of young people aged between 15 and 29 since 2017, shows that although “65% consider their health to be good or very good”, “loneliness, anxiety and gender and age inequalities persist”. This six-month study is based on a survey online to 1,511 young people from all over the country.
Young Spaniards have improved their perception of their health and well-being after the crash of 2021, although it is still below pre-pandemic levels, according to this work carried out by Fad Juventud and Fundación Mutua Madrileña. The analysis reveals that the current generation is “more aware, capable of giving a name to their discomfort and committed to their well-being”, in the words of Lorenzo Cooklin, general director of the Mutua Madrileña Foundation.
Almost two out of three young people perceive their health as good or very good. The Barometer concludes that “health depends not only on individual habits, but also on context, opportunities and social networks”.
Self-harm practices and suicidal ideation
The Barometer detects a significant decrease in suicidal ideations compared to previous editions. In 2025, 43% of young people say they have had suicidal thoughts at some point – up from 48.9% in 2023 – and 7.6% experience them frequently.
For the first time the barometer distinguishes between suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-harm practices, both linked to intense emotional distress. More than a third of young people (34.7%) report having hurt themselves at some time and 16.5% do it frequently. Self-harm and suicidal ideation are concentrated among groups with a lower level of education and greater material deprivation. Among those who experience serious deprivation, one in four (24.8%) admits to having frequently self-harmed.
Women are more likely to harm themselves at some point, although men have slightly higher rates of those who do it frequently.
Mental health
Mental health shows a slight improvement, although it continues to represent one of the great challenges. 54.7% of young people declare that they have had some psychological, psychiatric or mental health problem in the last year, a figure lower than those recorded by the 2021 and 2023 surveys, but still much higher than that of 2017.
After several years of decline, “the rating improves significantly starting in 2023 and breaks the negative trend.” However, anxiety continues to be the most common diagnosis and is the only symptom that has not stopped increasing since 2021.
42.8% received some professional diagnosis, mainly anxiety, panic or phobias (17.9%) or depression (15.7%). This is followed by ADHD (from 7.6% to 9.2%). Among those who decide not to turn to a professional, the main reasons remain the financial cost (31%) and the idea of being able to solve it on their own (22%).
Another data that highlights mental health problems in this age group is that one in four (26.4%) has consumed psychotropic drugs in the last year. Young people between 20 and 25 years old are those who use it the most, especially under medical prescription.
The Barometer shows that tiredness and lack of energy are the most frequent daily symptoms (52.3%), followed by lack of concentration (47.6%), sadness (45%) and lack of interest (44.4%). Uncertainty and insomnia follow, both above 40%. In this sense, Margarita Guerrero assures that “these social unrest can be used to lull young people, so that they do not expose themselves to social injustices”. It also focuses on large technology companies and the need to address health problems related to excessive screen consumption or social networks.
Unwanted loneliness
Loneliness is becoming a major source of emotional distress. It affects 87.5% of young people; a quarter experience it frequently, especially women and people between 20 and 24 years old. Between 2023 and 2025, the percentage of young people who say they have felt it increases from 81.6% to 87.5%. Nine out of ten young people have experienced it in the last year and a quarter (26.5%) frequently.
Although the majority say they have sufficient support networks (79.7%), only two in three (67%) use them when faced with a problem. Women tend to share their discomfort more than men, but they also report feeling more judged.
Life habits
The study shows a “clear increase in concern about physical well-being.” Almost two out of three (64.9%) believe that their health is good or very good, ten points more than in 2023. This concern translates into healthier routines. 42.6% do physical activity every or almost every day. Since 2019, the percentage of young people who play sports daily has increased by 20 points, the practice of frequent physical activity has doubled compared to 2021 (from 21.1% to 42.6%).
56.2% declare that they take great or great care of their diet, an increase of 18 points compared to 2023. But together with this greater awareness a parallel phenomenon appears: concern for image. Those who say they are very or somewhat concerned about their image have increased by almost 16 percentage points (from 20.5% in 2023 to 35.9% in 2025), especially among women and younger people.
Risky behaviors
33.7% of the people interviewed fear suffering physical violence, 33% sexual violence and 31.3% harassment in the workplace or at school. They are also worried about the consequences of risky sexual practices: 32.8% fear contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and 31.5% fear an unwanted pregnancy.
One young person in three (33.3%) admits having gotten into a vehicle driven by someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and 27.7% admits having driven “recklessly”. Although driving under the influence of alcohol is less common, two in ten (21.1%) still admit to having done so in the last six months.
