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.