Quarter of children depressed - Church Times

MORE than one in four children in the UK often feel depressed, and about ten per cent of those aged between 11 and 15 suffer from mental-health problems, says research released this week by the Children’s Society as part of its Good Childhood Inquiry (News, Comment, 29 February).

 A survey of 8000 14- to 16-year-olds found that 27 per cent of those polled agreed with the statement “I often feel depressed.” Children’s mental health dominates this latest round of research for the inquiry, which includes submissions from a range of health professionals, children’s organisations, and religious leaders, including the Association of Child Psychotherapists and Barnardo’s.

The submissions suggest that mental-health problems among children are increasing, particularly among those in prison or living in residential care. They are caused by factors such as domestic violence, consumerism, poverty, inequality, poor family relationships, and the culture of testing that has developed in schools.

A survey of adults, which also formed part of the inquiry, suggests that 66 per cent of those polled believe that the rise in indoor activities such as computer games and watching television stops children from becoming more active. Bob Reitemeier, the chief executive of the Children’s Society, said that the findings were worrying. “The fact that one in four, 27 per cent of this group, said they often felt depressed is something we should all be concerned about — as is the statistic that one in ten children has a clinically diagnosed mental-health disorder.”

The Church could play an important part in improving children’s livelihoods, in order to counter the prevailing individualistic culture, Mr Reitemeier said. The new research is the fifth out of six reports that make up the Good Childhood Inquiry.

Have you or any of your family experienced childhood depression?

By courtesy of the Anglican Church News.