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Child and adolescent mental health – a guide for healthcare professionals

June 2006

Foreward
The British Medical Association has long been concerned with the health of children and young people. The BMA’s Board of Science has produced a number of health promotion publications on this group, including 'Growing up in Britain' (1999), 'Eating disorders, body image and the media' (2000), 'Adolescent health' (2003) and 'Preventing childhood obesity'(2005).

Mental health problems in children and young people are of great significance to public health. Children and young people make up about 25 per cent of the total population of England. [Go to note 1] Not only do mental health problems impact on the lives of the individual concerned, limiting their ability to cope with life and fulfil their potential, they also have a considerable effect on their families and carers. Further, psychiatric disorders in childhood may persist, increasing the risk of problems in adult life. [Go to note 2]. Research has shown that of those with mental health problems at the age of 26, half had met the criteria for a disorder by age 15. It should, however, be noted that a mental health problem in childhood does not necessarily lead to an adult disorder: the majority of children with anxiety or depression will not have mood disorders in adult life. [Go to note 3]

Certain groups of children and adolescents are at greater risk of suffering mental health problems. As this report highlights, socio economic factors play a significant role, and there is a higher prevalence of mental health problems among children from deprived backgrounds. Looked after children (ie children brought in the care of local authorities) are at particular risk, as are refugee and asylum seeker children, and young offenders.

Professor Sir Charles George
Chairman, Board of Science