Study: Thousands of children have a mental disorder

Thousands of Irish children as young as 11 are suffering mental health problems that without proper help could lead to life-long illness, research shows.

The study found mental health problems are so prevalent that fewer than half of young people get to their early 20s without suffering some form of mental disorder.

Their troubles start early with about one in six children aged 11-13 found to be suffering mental disorders at the time they were interviewed while one in three had experienced a mental disorder at some point in their young life.

An examination of the 19-24 age group found an even higher prevalence with one in five suffering at the time of interview and 56% suffering at some point up to then.

Common problems identified were anxiety including excessive panic, fear, worry, phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); behavioural problems including hyperactivity, and mood disorders, chiefly depression, mania or bipolar disorder.

Psychiatrist, Mary Cannon, who lead the research team at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, said one of the messages that should be taken from the findings is that early recognition of mental health problems and early intervention to treat them were essential.

She said studies abroad had found that 75% of adults with psychiatric disorders already had some kind of mental illness before the age of 18 so opportunities to help may have been missed.

“Traumas and events can set in place vulnerabilities very early on. Childhood is the time when we can actually build up resilience to prevent these early vulnerabilities turning into disorders.”

She likened an adult seeking help for the first time for a deep-seated depression or OCD to someone presenting to a GP with stage-four cancer. “It’s very difficult to do anything for them.”

Mental Health Minister Kathleen Lynch described the findings as “disturbing”. “If I had my way, we would be talking about this in very early primary school,” she said. She defended government spending on the child and adolescent mental health service but admitted it wasn’t enough, and said she would stress this point as next week’s budget was finalised.

“We do need additional resources. We are not quite there yet and we need more. That’s the message I will be giving,” she said.

“Research without the resources to ensure that we learn from it and that that learning is put into practice is of very little use.”

The minister was critical of the disparities in service provision around the country, referring in particular to the fact that some services cater for children up to the age of 18 while others make 16 the cut-off point.

“I find it unbelievable. I find it very difficult to understand. The State and the laws in this country say that you’re a child until you’re 18,” she said.

“It shouldn’t be a postcode lottery as to what the intervention will be and how you will get your treatment. That has to stop.”