Promoting Young People's Mental Health
| Published date | 01 December 1999 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455059904600416 |
| Date | 01 December 1999 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Promoting Young
Servi.ces far Those Already Experiencing
Mental Health Problerrts - Despite a
People’s Mental
higher priority for child and adolescent
mental health services in recent years, they
Health
are still essentially unplanned, unevenly
distributed, and of variable quality.
What is the extent of mental ill health
Common
concerns expressed in the
amongst children and young people, and
evidence were the contradiction between
what should be done to improve the
low resources and rising demand on
situation? This report makes a total of 44
services from increasingly disturbed
recommendations for change based on
children; and destructive &dquo;financial and
evidence showing that a fifth of children
political tensions&dquo; between statutory
and adolescents experience psychological
bodies. The report recommends the
problems, and that diagnosable anxiety
development of a National Service
disorders affect around 12% of those aged
Framework similar to that developed for
between 4 and 20 years old. While
adult mental health services, as well as a
psychotic conditions are extremely rare in
statutory duty on local, health, social
this age range (affecting less than 1%),
service and education authorities to
&dquo;disruptive disorders&dquo; affect around 10%,
co-operate in providing for the mental
attention deficit disorder around 5% and
health needs of children and young people.
&dquo;specific developmental disorders,
Services
enuresis and substance abuse
for Young People between 16 and
up to 6%&dquo;.
25 - The inquiry recognised that people in
The report is based on an inquiry by a
this age group often fall between child and
multi-disciplinary committee, which
adult services. They may not feel able to
considered over a thousand submissions
engage with parents, or professionals
from children, parents, professionals and
working with parents, as they try to
relevant organisations.
establish a distinct individual identity. The
need for more responsive,...
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