The number of young people receiving treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in England has risen significantly over the past decade, with social media identified as a potential contributing factor. National Health Service (NHS) data reveals that the prevalence of OCD among 16 to 24-year-olds has tripled since 2014, with a substantial increase in treatment referrals and courses provided.

According to NHS figures, 5.7 percent of individuals aged 16 to 24 were diagnosed with OCD in 2024, compared to 1.8 percent in 2014. The number of referrals for OCD treatment in this age group increased by 47 percent between 2017–18 and 2024–25, rising from 17,173 to 25,221. The health service delivered approximately 670,000 courses of OCD treatment last year. Female patients in this cohort are affected more frequently, with 6.1 percent diagnosed, compared with 2.2 percent recorded in the broader adult population, according to the NHS adult psychiatric morbidity survey.

OCD is characterized by repetitive, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, such as excessive handwashing driven by fears of contamination. The NHS attributes part of the rise in recorded cases to improved awareness and reduced stigma, bolstered by public figures sharing their experiences of OCD and encouraging others to seek help.

However, experts emphasize that increased awareness alone does not fully account for the surge in cases. Nick Broughton, national director for mental health, learning disabilities and autism at NHS England, highlighted the severity of OCD beyond common misconceptions, noting that for many it results in debilitating anxiety and, in untreated cases, suicidal ideation. He stated, “We are now seeing thousands more people coming forward for help... effective treatment is available.”

Leigh Wallbank, chief executive of the charity OCD Action, echoed these concerns, acknowledging the role of better recognition but underscoring a real increase in distress among patients. Wallbank pointed to a complex array of pressures faced by young people today—including the pervasive influence of social media, academic and work demands, financial challenges, political instability, and lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic—as possible factors that exacerbate anxiety and intrusive thoughts inherent to OCD.

While definitive research linking social media directly to the rise in OCD cases remains limited, mental health professionals caution that the immersive and often stressful online environment may intensify symptoms for vulnerable individuals. They call for further investigation into the causes of this upward trend alongside ongoing efforts to expand access to effective treatments for those affected.