One in five young people has shown symptoms of depression or anxiety, with young women more prone than men to the early signs of poor mental health, according to official statistics. They showed that the prevalence of poor mental health was almost as high at the ages of 16 to 24 as in early middle age, the period most associated with emotional problems. Relationships with friends, neighbours, fellow students or colleagues were key to the emotional wellbeing of the younger age group. Those with fewer friends were more likely to suffer low self-esteem, sadness and problems with eating or sleeping. Rows with parents were still relatively common and a quarter said they quarrelled with their mothers more than once a week. However, more than half also had meaningful conversations with their mothers about things they found important. Overall young people argued less with their fathers, but confided in them less. Despite the high level of poor mental health, eight out of ten said they were satisfied with their lives and felt happy. The figures emerged as minsters have acknowledged a growing crisis in teenage mental health, with the numbers seeking treatment on the rise. An injection of $300 million has been made to help youngsters with eating disorders before they need hospital treatment. Eating disorders and self-harm among young people have risen significantly in recent years... However, the study showed that young people were more cultured than ever, with participation in the arts by 16 to 24 year-olds rising by nine per cent in the past five years.