1 in 10 Children ‘Suffers From Poor Mental Health’

One in ten children in the UK has a mental disorder, according to Office of National Statistics figures. The figures come as the number of prescriptions for depression has quadrupled among under-16s in the past ten years, with over half a million in the last year.

There are criticisms that the figures are unrepresentative however, as GPs have already been accused of being too quick to hand out depression medication, before trying alternative therapies.

“In a sense, it shows some of the pressure many youngsters are under – their lives are chaotic and there isn’t as much stability at home,” David Laws, the Liberal Democrats’ children’s secretary said. “But instead of trying to treat the causes and create a more stable and supportive environment for young people, we think we can solve these problems by prescribing a pill.”