A recent review examining the deaths of more than 100 care leavers aged 18-24 in 2025 indicates a significantly higher death rate for this group compared to the general population. Experts describe a "care cliff" at age 18, where young people experience a substantial reduction in support as they transition into adulthood.
One-fifth of all the deaths analysed in the review occurred at age 18. The findings suggest the death rate for this cohort is approximately 3-4 times higher than that of the general population.
The review highlighted cases such as David, who died from a lack of insulin at 19 after his diabetes nurse stopped working with him due to his age and his connections fell away. Another case, Michael, died by suicide in prison at 18, just two weeks after being incarcerated. Six of the 112 care leavers who died in 2025 were in prison, with deaths resulting from drug overdose or suicide.
The children's minister, Josh MacAlister, commented on the findings, stating that a young man not receiving support for diabetes medication "should never have died." He added that a system that left him unseen for two weeks would not have led to his death if he had "his own people, his own tribe."