College calls for better support for children to prevent adult mental health problems

Early action is needed across the UK to identify and support children under 5 with mental health problems that could blight their adult lives, says a report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).1The college called on governments in the four UK nations to prioritise the mental health of young children and help them become fully functioning adults. It said that £16bn annually is spent in England alone on interventions to tackle mental health problems that could have been prevented through action in early childhood.In 2017, 5.5% of 2 to 5 year olds had a mental health condition such as anxiety, behavioural problems, or neuro-developmental disorders.2 Social deprivation, physical and emotional neglect and abuse, domestic violence, and alcohol or substance use during pregnancy can all have a negative mental impact on babies and young children. Yet the report said that most children and their parents fail to get the help…
Read Original Article: College calls for better support for children to prevent adult mental health problems »