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Background: We examined the evidence on mental health outcomes for children and young people who experienced the Great Recession of 2008. The aim was to understand the potential COVID-19 pandemic related economic impacts on the mental health of children and young people. Lessons from the Great Recession could be applied to inform future practice, policy and research regarding children and young people's mental health following the pandemic. Method: A systematic search of PsycINFO, Medline, CINAHL and Embase retrieved 1,391 papers for review. Results: Following application of eligibility criteria, 13 articles met inclusion. These studies used cross sectional and cohort designs, and utilised formal psychological measures or retrospective hospital data to assess the mental health of children and young people during the period of the Great Recession. There is limited evidence that the mental health of young people is negatively affected during periods of economic instability among those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. A negative mental health impact was not observed across all studies for children and young people. Conclusions: The mental health of children and young people may be impacted as a result of an economic recession, as demonstrated during the Great Recession of 2008. These effects are not equally distributed amongst the general population and specific risk indicators include low parental educational attainment, parental and youth unemployment. These risk factors may affect young people differently according to age. Implications for researchers, policy makers and clinical services in the context of the economic recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.