Physical Wellness

Children as Young as Five Being Treated for Depression and Anxiety

By Staff Reporter | Update Date: May 31, 2012 01:14 PM EDT

The problem of anxiety and depression is not something that is faced by adults alone anymore. Children as young as five-year-olds are being treated for the same, show NHS(National Health Service in UK) figures.

The reasons for such mental problems in children of such young age have been determined as unemployment, financial problems or drug abuse among parents at home, say experts according to Mirror, UK.

"Levels of emotional disorders are rising," NHS Solent clinical psychologist Barbara Inkson said.

According to BBC report, mental health workers in Sussex are working with more than 1,000 under-18s while in the Solent 324 young people were referred for therapy.

Also, One Trust which covers Southampton and ­Portsmouth has had 378 children below 16 undergoing treatment with one child who is just 2 years old.

"Intervening early when a child or young person starts struggling to cope is proven to reduce the likelihood of that young person developing much more severe and entrenched mental health problems," Sarah Brennan, chief of charity Young Minds was quoted as saying by BBC.

"It is vital that we invest in children and young people's mental health to prevent them suffering entrenched problems as adults," Brennan added.

Nationally, one in 10 children aged between five and 16 years old has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, the report said.

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