Mental health problems often start in childhood, but opportunities to help are being missed and research spend is lacking.
Three in four mental illnesses start in childhood
75% of mental illnesses start before a child reaches their 18th birthday, while 50% of mental health problems in adult life (excluding dementia) take root before the age of 15.
In an average class of 30 young people, three will have a mental health problem. Figures show 10% of children aged 5-16 have been diagnosed with a mental health problem.
75% of young people with a mental health problem are not receiving treatment
There’s been a rise in the time children are having to wait to receive treatment for complex mental health conditions, and children with depression and anxiety are often not being identified or given help.
The average wait for effective treatment is 10 years
It can take a decade for many young people to receive help after showing first symptoms. Opportunities to help are often missed until they reach “crisis”, causing children to self-harm, become suicidal, be violent and aggressive or drop out of school.
Read more: 12 statistics to get you thinking about mental health in young people
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