It’s well known that mental health is a significant issue for young people. Recent research suggests that at least 10% children and young people between the ages of five and 16 in the UK experience a problem such as anxiety and depression. If left untreated these problems can spiral and lead to issues such as drug abuse, suicide attempts and criminality in adolescence and adulthood.
But what if primary school children were offered counselling as a matter of course? Early intervention would not only reduce mental health problems down the line but also reduce the cost to the public purse.
It is estimated that by adolescence 30 to 40% of young people have at least one mental health disorder. In adulthood, one in four people face mental health difficulties. The psycho-social and financial consequences of untreated mental health problems are profound.
[For more on this story by Panoraia (Nora) Andriopoulou, go to https://theconversation.com/ho...lp-the-economy-96044]
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