October 24th 2023
Children under five are facing lifelong mental health conditions
Children under five are at risk of suffering from lifelong mental health conditions which could be prevented with the right care and support, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned.
The College has published a report calling on the government to prioritise the mental health of babies and young children.
Half of mental health conditions arise by age 14 and many of these start to develop in the first years of life. In England prior to the Covid pandemic, more than 100,000 (5.5%) of two to four-year-olds struggled with anxiety, behavioural disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Most babies, under-5s and their parents do not receive the support they need to address these issues both during and after pregnancy. Mental health services are under-resourced and inconsistent commissioning is putting children’s immediate and long-term mental health at significant risk.
The College called on the government to introduce new specialist services and ensure every family has access to the support they need, regardless of where they live.
The College also urged the development of a cross-government early childhood strategy, workforce and training plan, and improved data collection on early childhood outcomes to better understand and support young children.
The report warns that a failure to effectively tackle the lack of early intervention could breach statutory legislation and under-5s’ right to mental health under Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Dr Trudi Seneviratne, registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: ‘The period from conception to five is essential in securing the healthy development of children into adulthood. Unfortunately, these years are often not given the importance they should be, and many people are unaware of what signs they should be looking out for.
‘Parents, carers and society as a whole have a critical role to play. This includes securing positive relationships and a nurturing environment that supports the building blocks of a child’s social emotional and cognitive development.
‘The majority of under-5s with mental health conditions are not currently receiving the level of support necessary to help them become productive, functioning adults and reach their full potential. That’s why we’re calling on the government to roll out comprehensive services in every neighbourhood and region to ensure no family is left to struggle alone.
‘Our report makes nine recommendations to bridge the current treatment and prevention gap. We sincerely hope these measures will have a broad and lasting impact on the lives of children being born today and countless generations to come.’
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