What Do We Mean By Child And Adolescent Mental Health Problems?

Mental health problems in children and young people are common with 1 in 10 children and young people under the age of 16 in the UK having a diagnosable mental disorder. Many more will experience psychological difficulties that cause distress and have a negative impact on the life of the young person and their family. Half of all mental health problems in adulthood begin before the age of 15. Left untreated, mental health problems in children and young people have serious adverse consequences on educational attainment and social relationships, life chances and physical health.

Advice on specific mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and worry can be found elsewhere on this website, but it is worth seeking out material targeted specifically at combatting mental health problems in young people, as the way the problems are manifested and the best approaches to help can be somewhat different.