HC Deb 27 January 2003 vol 398 cc667-8W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on his assessment of the risk factors increasing the likelihood of mental health problems in children; [91989]

(2) if he will list for each year since 1997 the percentage of children who were diagnosed as suffering from each category of mental disorder. [91988]

Jacqui Smith

A survey of the mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain was carried out in 1999 by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health, Scottish National Executive and National Assembly for Wales. Prevalence rates were produced for five to 15-year-olds in the three main categories of mental disorder; ie, conduct disorder, hyperactivity and emotional disorder.

The key findings on prevalence were that: about 10 per cent. of children aged five to 15 in Great Britain had a mental disorder in 1999; 5 per cent. had conduct disorders (eg aggressive and antisocial behaviour), 4 per cent. had emotional disorders (eg anxiety, depression) and 1 per cent. were hyperkinetic (inattention, over-activity); mental disorders were significantly more common in boys than girls in both the five to 10 and the 11 to 15-year-old age groups.

The survey also found that mental disorders were more likely among children:

  • in lone parent compared with two parent families
  • who had a parent with a mental disorder
  • in families of social class V (unskilled occupations) compared with social class I (professional occupations)
  • in families with a gross weekly household income of less than £200 compared with £500 or more
  • who had a physical health complaint
  • who had special educational needs.

The prevalence of mental disorders in children were not unexpected nor were the associations between the risk factors and levels of disorder. They are in line with similar studies in Western Europe and the United States. This information has proved very useful in providing a benchmark for further work, such as that being undertaken by the child and adolescent mental health module of the Children's National Service Framework.