Child psychology crisis as support axed: Under 10s suffering depression and anxiety

THOUSANDS of children aged 10 and under are being treated for depression, anxiety and stress, an investigation by the Sunday Express has revealed.

Boy depressed in playgroundGETTY•PIC POSED BY MODEL

Children under the age of 10 are suffering from anxiety, stress and depression

Swingeing cuts to the support network means many primary school children have needed hospital treatment because their psychological problems have spiralled out of control, piling more pressure on the health service.

A total of 15,500 children aged 10 or under have received treatment for stress, anxiety or depression in the past five years, according to figures from four of Britain’s biggest NHS mental health trusts.

The number of primary school pupils affected is likely to be far higher.

The YoungMinds mental health charity urged the Government to stop cutting vital funding to prevent a child psychology crisis.

Campaigns director Lucie Russell said: “An increase in under-11s needing mental health services is a sad and very worrying indictment of the society we live in and the pressures children face.

By 2030 depression will be the biggest health problem in the Western world

Lucie Russell

“The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2030 depression will be the biggest health problem in the Western world and so we are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

“That’s why it is vital we take responsibility for the stress we are loading on to children and act now to provide support for them when they need it.”

Data from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Pennine Care NHS Trust and Humber NHS Foundation was released in response to Freedom of information requests from the Sunday Express.

Labour’s public health spokeswoman Luciana Berger said: “It is deeply worrying that increasing numbers of young children are experiencing anxiety, stress and depression.

“We need to do much more to understand the causes of mental health problems in children and intervene early to prevent problems getting worse.” 

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