Shining a Light on Children’s Mental Health Issues

Introduction

Mental health refers to our cognitive, emotional and behavioural wellbeing. A child’s mental health is as important as their physical health; without good mental health they may struggle in school, in social settings and in relationships. Children with poor mental health can also develop a low self-image, low self-esteem and a lack of confidence making them lose interest in things they once enjoyed and feel extremely down. 

Recent NHS data suggests that up to one in five children and young people in the UK experience some form of mental health disorder. This figure is slightly higher than the World Health Organization’s estimate that suggests one in seven 10- to 19-year-olds have a diagnosable mental health condition. 

Children’s mental health can change over time, including in reaction to negative life events, stress, trauma or bullying. Sometimes mental health issues develop due to a physical reason such as chemical imbalance, severe vitamin deficiency or an issue with brain development. In some cases, the trigger for a change in mental health status is not known. 

In this article we will be shining a light on children’s mental health issues, highlighting some of the common mental health issues that affect children today and discussing the importance of supporting children through their struggles.

Understanding Children’s Mental Health

Conversations about child mental health can be difficult; it is a sensitive topic for many to approach. Our reluctance to discuss mental health with children is influenced by a lack of understanding, stigma and fear. If we want our children to grow up to be healthy and thrive then we need to acknowledge that their mental health is just as important as their physical health. Ignoring mental health problems does not make them go away, in fact it is more likely to make them escalate. 

According to an NHS survey, in recent years, young people have been experiencing a higher mental need than ever before – 1 in 6 people aged 5 to 16 experienced a mental health problem in 2020. This figure indicated a significant increase from 1 in 9 three years prior. Covid-19 lockdowns, fears about climate change, online abuse and the cost of living crisis have all had a negative impact on our young people in recent years. 

When children have good mental health, they are more likely to learn and play well, engage with those around them in a constructive way, enjoy their school life and contribute positively to the community. Children usually have active imaginations, innate curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Youngsters naturally see the world in a more vibrant and fascinating way than adults do. When mental health issues creep in, this can mute the vibrancy of the world for children, turning the colours to grey and making them feel scared, sad and hopeless.  

Children can suffer from a number of mental health issues, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders (for example anorexia and bulimia)
• Behavioural disorders (such as ADHD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Personality disorders

Some of the most commonly known reasons for child mental health referrals are anxiety and reaching crisis point (however, due to poor NHS data collecting, one third of referrals are marked as ‘unknown’ making it difficult for us to understand the true nature of the needs that children are presenting with). 

Any child is at risk of developing a mental health issue, although research suggests that some may be more at risk than others. This includes:

• Looked-after children who are growing up in care
• Children who are living in deprivation and poverty
• Marginalised communities (including ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+)
• Children with autism
• Children who are deaf, disabled or have complex needs
• Children who have been abused or neglected
• Young carers

Children who experience social isolation or lack a strong support network around them may also be more likely to develop a mental health issue. 

A child’s mental health can also be affected by genetic factors or a family history of mental issues. Trauma or environmental stressors including bullying, challenging family dynamics and relationship breakdowns can also negatively impact mental health.  

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of mental health issues in children can vary depending on the specific condition and how severely it is affecting them. Left untreated, many children’s mental health issues will get worse and will begin to have a significant impact on their quality of life as well as on those around them.

Signs and symptoms may include:

• Becoming withdrawn, sullen or does not want to come out of their room
• Losing interest in hobbies or friends
• Poor academic performance or refusing to go to school
• Lack of appetite
• Problems sleeping or sleeping too much
• Issues around emotional regulation (such as angry, aggressive outbursts)
• Sudden personality changes or changes in mood
• Persistent crying, feeling extremely down, hopeless or worried
• Panic attacks

It is important to remember that many of the above symptoms can have an underlying cause other than a mental health disorder and you should avoid jumping to conclusions. Rather, ensure that children have a safe space to make disclosures about their mental health and can access the right support.

If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, try speaking to them first, without judgement. Your GP will be able to offer advice and support. If your child is at school, they may have a pastoral department that can help you. Children’s mental health care should always place the child at the centre. 

To engage with services, children need to feel listened to and not judged or stigmatised.

Breaking the Stigma

Stigma, in the context of mental health, refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs and stereotypes that society holds about individuals with mental health disorders. Research by the charity Mind found that 2 in 3 youngsters reported that they felt they had experienced discrimination and/or stigma at some point when reaching out for help or accessing mental health support.

Stigma can manifest in various forms, including: 

• Discrimination (including racism, homophobia, sexism)
• Stereotyping
• Bullying
• Isolation
• Prejudice

This negativity can significantly impact a child’s willingness to seek help for their mental health issues, as they may fear judgement, ridicule or being ‘labelled’. They may also worry that speaking out may lead to them being further isolated.

Unfortunately, a stigma around speaking about child mental health still exists with people passing off children’s mental health issues as:

• Attention seeking behaviour
• Children being dramatic
• The effects of poor parenting

Making these types of assumptions can be extremely damaging. When we minimise, stigmatise or place blame around children’s mental health, we risk further marginalising these children, making them feel ashamed and reducing the chances of them reaching out for help and support. 

Sometimes parents avoid getting help for their child’s mental health due to:

• Fear about them having to take medications
• Lack of understanding about mental health
• Religious or cultural reasons
• Fear of judgement from others

Parents should feel able to open up difficult conversations with their children about mental health. We should also make sure that children know they will be taken seriously and supported. Children who have had a negative experience when they have reached out before will be less likely to speak up in future.

Supporting Children’s Mental Wellbeing

Children’s mental health services in the UK are woefully inadequate. In 2024, the children’s commissioner published a report that revealed some shocking statistics:

• More than a quarter of a million children and young people (270,300) were still waiting for mental health support, despite being referred to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) in the previous years (2022-23).
• Waiting times vary considerably between trusts, with some areas of the country expecting children to wait months to be seen and some 40,000 youngsters having waited more than two years for treatment.
• Only 32% of children and young people referred to mental health services received support, with the rest left either still waiting or having their claims closed before accessing support.

A snapshot of worldwide statistics that highlight how important supporting the mental health of young people is include:

• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15- to 19-year-olds in the world
• Urgent referrals of under 18s to NHS mental health crisis teams reached record highs in 2023
• Children in care are more likely than their peers to experience a mental health difficulty, according to the NSPCC, and across the UK there are an estimated 107, 317 children in care (more than ever before)
• Children who have experienced living in care in the UK may be four times more likely to have a diagnosable mental health condition
• American data suggests 2.7% of teens will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime
• The WHO estimate that 10% of children and young people worldwide experience a mental health disorder, but the majority of them do not seek help or receive care
• According to data from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) 1 in 6 children in America ages 2-8 have a mental, behavioural or developmental disorder

It is important that all people involved with the care of children work together to improve their mental health outcomes. This includes families, educators, social workers and medical professionals. 

Some of the following strategies may help to support the mental health of youngsters: 

• Encourage help seeking behaviour (including attending therapy, support groups and using self-help techniques)
• Ensure that children have a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which they can thrive
• Incorporate conversations about mental health into PHSE or RSE lessons at school
• Use clear, age-appropriate language when speaking to children about the topic of mental health
• Provide resources for children to improve their mental wellbeing
• Enforce a zero tolerance approach to bullying in schools

We can also support the mental health of young people by looking after their general health and wellbeing, using strategies to increase their confidence and helping them to build resilience:

• Encourage children to eat a healthy, balanced diet and stay hydrated
• Make sure children are getting adequate vitamins and minerals (your GP can perform a blood test if you have concerns) – consider giving children a daily multivitamin tablet or vitamin drops
• Get them outdoors and active at least a few times per week
• Encourage responsible social media use
• Set realistic goals and expectations for children and avoid putting too much pressure on the
• Encourage children to see making mistakes as an opportunity for learning
• Nurture a positive self-image in children; validate their feelings, provide plenty of reassurance and cuddles and give praise for the things they do well
• Model positive behaviour to them
• Encourage children to do things they enjoy, such as playing sports or music or taking part in other extracurricular activities
• Spend time in nature and green spaces
• Encourage them to develop a growth mindset

There is a link between self-confidence and mental health. We can support our children’s wellbeing by instilling self-confidence and resilience in them. Confidence and resilience are inextricably linked. We can help our children to feel confident and empowered by showing them that:

• They are loved
• They are supported
• Their feelings are valid
• They are able to make their own decisions

Social media and technology allow us to be more connected than ever before but it can also be detrimental to children’s mental health and confidence levels. It is crucial that we teach our children, in an age-appropriate way, how to safely navigate the digital world. This includes:

• Highlighting how most pictures are airbrushed, filtered and edited and that this fuels unrealistic expectations of beauty
• The dangers of online bullying or grooming
• Only viewing age-appropriate content or using age-appropriate apps
• Not posting anything that they are not comfortable with people seeing
• Establishing a balance between being online and being offline

Conclusion

With child mental health at an all-time low and waiting lists for treatment at an all-time high, we need to be working together to tackle these important issues through collaboration, advocacy and innovation. Children growing up today may face unique challenges and stressors that their parents did not, therefore a holistic approach is necessary to support all children, with a priority on education, early intervention and compassionate care.