(UK) Schools Week: 1 in 8 kids has mental disorder; others have neurological issues

Nov 22, 2018, Schools Week: NHS: 1 in 8 pupils has a mental health disorder https://schoolsweek.co.uk/nhs-1-in-8-pupils-has-a-mental-health-disorder/ One in eight school-age children had an identified mental disorder last year, the first new data on the subject in 14 years has revealed. The NHS has finally released long-awaited statistics from a major survey of the mental health of children and young people carried out in 2017. It is the first time since 2004 that such complete data has been published. The data shows that 12.8 per cent of five to 19-year-olds had at least one mental disorder when assessed in 2017, while 5 per cent met the criteria for two or more disorders when interviewed. It follows pledges by the government for more mental health support provision in schools. Ministers announced last year that they will spend around £300 million [$385M US dollars] on new mental health leads in schools and support teams to link education and health services. However, health experts, MPs and headteachers have warned the funding settlement is too small to address the lack of support available to young people. … The long-awaited data shows that emotional disorders were the most common disorder among school-age children, affecting 8.1 per cent. Emotional disorders include anxiety, depression, mania and bipolar affective disorder. Meanwhile, 4.6 per cent of five to 19-year-olds had some kind of behaviour disorder, and 1.6 per cent had a hyperactivity disorder. Autism spectrum disorder was identified in 1.2 per cent of pupils, while 0.4 per cent had an eating disorder. Mental health issues on the rise The statistics also show a rise in the prevalence of mental health issues among children and young people over the past two decades. … However, different disorders were more prominent at different stages of childhood. Emotional disorders were much more prevalent among 17 to 19-year-olds, but behavioural and hyperactivity disorders were more common in those aged five to 16….