Dr Catherine Sebastian

I think that's a really interesting question.

I think any age that would be chosen would be to some extent arbitrary.

In the UK, it's 16.

I believe in France, it's 15.

So to some extent, the choice is a social one as much as a scientific one.

I think to the extent that we do have evidence, we know that the adolescent brain is still developing.

These are formative years that young people are particularly susceptible to mental health problems with half of mental health problems emerging by the age of 18.

And so I imagine that this underpins some of the decision to choose 16.

But I would by no means say that this is

100% a scientific decision.

It's a social one as well.

Thank you.