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One-fifth of deaths of those in care occur at 18, in what experts call a ‘care cliff’, as vital support is lost
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Society — Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent
David* spent most of his childhood in and out of care after experiencing abuse and neglect, and spent his teenage years in a children’s home, where a nurse helped him keep track of his type 1 diabetes.
But as he approached 18, things changed: he was moved into supported accommodation on his own, and then, at 19 years old, his diabetes nurse stopped working with him because of his age.
He lost a lot of connections, including a personal adviser who moved out of the area, and the monitoring of his insulin levels declined. David loved swimming and ice skating, qualified as a lifeguard, and spent lots of time in a local care leavers’ hub where he enjoyed chatting to other young people.
Then, in the summer of 2025, the hub closed for three weeks for refurbishment and his new personal adviser went on leave. It was during this time that David died from a lack of insulin. His body wasn’t discovered for two weeks.
David’s death is one of a number examined in a landmark review into the deaths of more than 100 care leavers aged 18-24 in 2025. The review findings suggest the death rate of this cohort is about 3-4 times higher than the death rate of the general population.
One-fifth of all these deaths occurred at age 18, with experts saying a “care cliff” means young people experience an “immense drop off in support” as they transition from being a child to an adult.
The review said: “It is notable that there was no one in David’s life who was connected enough to notice his absence [when he died] and, in the end, it was neighbours who alerted the police. Those who knew David talked about him fondly, and he clearly made connections with a number of them in children’s services.
“They said that when he turned 19, all those connections fell away and he was left on his own.”
The children’s minister, Josh MacAlister, said: “In all of these stories, one person could have been the difference.
“A young man who wasn’t getting the support with his diabetes medication should never have died. But it was a system that left him not seen for two weeks. If he had his own people, his own tribe, that wouldn’t have happened .”
There were similar failings in the case of Michael* who suffered “trauma, rejection and hardship” throughout his childhood, including sexual abuse, and he was placed into care at six years old.
He built a solid relationship with a foster carer, with whom he lived for four years, but when she became unwell and could no longer care for him, he went to more than 10 foster placements before he turned 18.
When he was moved into semi-independent accommodation outside his local area, he was frequently reported as missing and started taking drugs. Social workers had long raised concerns about his vulnerability and fears he could be exploited.
After several skirmishes with police, including having to be brought down from the roof of his accommodation, he was sent to an adult prison aged 18. He was reported to be very agitated, shouting and repeatedly pressing the emergency bell in his cell – he was then placed into segregation after getting into a fight with his cellmate.
After being deemed “medically unfit” for segregation he was moved back into the main prison wing and was found dead in his cell after taking his life, just two weeks after he first walked through the prison doors.
Of the 112 care leavers who died in 2025, six were in prison and died as a result of a drug overdose or suicide, and Ministry of Justice officials report care leavers are disproportionately more likely to self-harm in prison.
However, care leaver status is not reported in custody deaths data, meaning there is no way of knowing exactly how adversely affected they are.
Another risk factor highlighted in the review was care-experienced women who had their own children removed: six of the deaths recorded were young women killing themselves in these circumstances.
Janey*, who came into care aged 15 after being rejected by her mother, thrived in the home of her foster family until the age of 18.
After leaving home, she ended up in a volatile relationship and intermittently taking drugs, leading to her three children being taken into care.
She killed herself soon after, aged 23, leaving a letter behind for each of her children to read as adults, saying how sorry she was and how she missed cuddling them.
Staff involved with Janey said if there had been a more formal role for her foster carer in her adult life, or if she had been supported to rebuild her relationship with her sister, things could have turned out differently.
• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org , or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
But as he approached 18, things changed: he was moved into supported accommodation on his own, and then, at 19 years old, his diabetes nurse stopped working with him because of his age.
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent. Published 24 Aug 2026, 11:01 pm.
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