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Rising child depression figures ‘only tip of the iceberg’ | Quote: | Rising child depression figures ‘only tip of the iceberg’
JAMES MORGAN
Thousands of children in Scotland are treated by a GP for depression every year, and the number is rising, official figures show.
The number affected by the illness rose from 2550 to 2700 between 1999 and 2003, the last year for which figures are available, despite a raft of health initiatives.
Lewis MacDonald, deputy health minister, revealed the statistics for patients aged under 16, derived from a study of general practices, in a written parliamentary answer to Adam Ingram, SNP MSP for the South of Scotland.
He also said scores of under-18s were admitted to hospital for deliberate self-harming by cutting or burning, although the annual figure was down from 59 to 53 over the same period.
However, the statistics were described as "just the tip of the iceberg" by a leading child psychiatry expert, who also claimed health boards did not have enough resources to implement Scottish Executive guidelines.
Mr Ingram called for more detailed research into the prevalence and nature of depression among young people, and an improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic services.
He said: "We must ensure that front-line professionals are resourced enough to make proper clinical decisions when it comes to diagnosis and to ensure that a range of treatments are available.
"It is clear ministers need to commission more research into this area in order to guard against a possible knee-jerk reaction of looking for a quick fix through the use of anti-depressants or other drugs."
Depression in young people arises from a variety of biological, psychological and social factors. Some are genetic, but social adversity, such as family discord and bullying, can also be involved, while an acute event, such as bereavement or social rejection, can also precipitate illness.
Dr Michael van Beinum, an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry, described the executive's figures as "a gross under-representation".
He said: "We know from good epidemiological research that 1% to 2% of children under the age of 18 will have a depressive disorder each year. Far fewer than that are diagnosed. Furthermore, we know that around 6% of young people under the age of 18 will have self-harmed at some point in their lives.
"So the figures represent the tip of a much larger iceberg of serious emotional distress in children and young people, and many of these children never get the help they need."
Dr Van Beinum called for investment in services across the board, from better training for residential care staff and guidance teachers, to greater provision of specialised child and mental health services.
He said health boards "have not yet found the resources" to expand child and adolescent mental health services.
An executive spokeswoman said: "We are committed to ensuring there are consistent high-quality services in place . . . to support children and young people with mental health problems."
Study results
Children seen for depression in GP surgeries
1999 - 2550
2000 - 2350
2001 - 2350
2002 - 2750
2003 - 2700 |
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/61108.html
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Reluctant Hero
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I am surprised that the report never mentioned peer pressure. I would have thought that was one of the major causes of depression.
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