Over half of all mental health conditions start before the age of 14. Pharmacies are ideally placed to inform parents and families about mental wellness and swiftly signpost them to expert support

Mental health was one of the most pressing topics discussed by world leaders at the Davos World Economic Forum this January. Persisting stigma around mental health problems must be removed, said the Duke of Cambridge, who has been actively campaigning on the issue for several years. He commented: “We’ve got to start tackling it now because there are still so many people that are suffering in silence.” 

Mental health, particularly services for children and young people, has been defined as a priority for the NHS in its Long Term Plan. Support and advice for young people is especially important, as problems can begin at a younger age than many may realise. “We know that half of all mental health conditions start before the age of 14,” says Tom Madders, director of communications and campaigns at the charity YoungMinds. “But young people often find it hard to talk when they’re struggling to cope. Our message is that if you’re finding life difficult, you’re not alone. Talk to someone you can trust – it could be a friend, a family member, a teacher, a doctor, a counsellor or a helpline,” he adds.

A range of informed and accessible sources of support are needed for young people to easily access when they need it – and that someone to talk to may, of course, be a member of the local community pharmacy team. Pharmacy staff can help by being equipped with information about local services, making sure that their knowledge is up to date on what can be a difficult topic to discuss and offering a listening ear to anyone who needs it.

Worsening picture

The mental health of children and young people in the UK is currently on the decline. One in eight (12.8 per cent) people aged between five and 19 years had a mental disorder, according to report published by NHS Digital in December 2018. The report – Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017 – also found that emotional disorders have become more common in five- to 15-year-olds, ranging from 4.3 per cent in 1999, to 3.9 per cent in 2004 and 5.8 per cent in 2017.

Some groups of young people are more likely to be affected by mental health disorders, according to Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation. There are inequalities that need to be tackled, he says. “Those most at risk of mental disorders are children from low-income households, children whose parents have poor mental health or are in receipt of a disability payment, and 14- to 19-year-olds who identified as LGBTQ,” Mark explains. “Until we address inequalities and ensure a consistent culture of prevention for all children, young people and their families, we will keep failing the next generation right at the start of their lives.” Giving young people’s mental health consistently high priority is “everyone’s business”, he stresses.

Responding to NHS Digital’s statistics, Peter Fonagy, chief executive of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families said: “We need to develop a more comprehensive approach to young people’s mental health from the community to the clinic, with schools as a key part of this picture. We need a kinder society that doesn’t impose unrealistic and destructive expectations on young people to live up to an unrealisable goal. We need to make it clear that people are valued in themselves, not for their appearance and not judged on their sexuality and have a right to be confident in their identity.”

Children under pressure

Almost half of children aged 12 in England feel sad or anxious at least once a week, according to a survey released by Barnardo’s in 2018. By the age of 16 this rises to 70 per cent. 

Sources of stress and anxiety reported by children were school (65 per cent), thoughts about their future (42 per cent), problems at home (31 per cent), their weight (26 per cent) and being bullied (25 per cent). Social media was also a factor, with 15 per cent saying they had been concerned about something they had seen or read online and 12 per cent being concerned about online bullying. 

When asked who they would talk to if they felt sad or anxious, 71 per cent said family members, 63 per cent said friends and 38 per cent said they would approach their teachers.

“Although these can be normal emotions experienced while growing up, children need support to deal with the pressures of everyday life,” commented Javed Khan, Barnardo’s chief executive. 

Mental health concerns explained

• Anxiety disorders: These are characterised by feeling anxious, worried or fearful most of the time, with racing thoughts and feelings of panic. Physical symptoms include a fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, or even hair loss. Research suggests that as many as one in six young people will experience an anxiety condition at some point in their lives.

• Depression: A long-lasting low mood disorder, that affects the ability to do everyday things, feel pleasure or take an interest in activities, depression affects one in 10 people. It can affect people of any age, including children. Medication, self care techniques, peer support groups, exercise and a healthy diet can all help. 

• Eating disorders: These often start during teenage years or early adulthood. Someone may eat too little or too much food, restrict the types of food they eat or have an unhealthy relationship with food and weight. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia can lead to serious physical health problems such as fits and muscle spasms; heart, kidney or bowel problems, including permanent constipation; osteoporosis and fertility problems.

• Bipolar disorder: Previously termed manic depression, bipolar is characterised by mood swings from extreme highs to extreme lows. The condition is usually diagnosed before the age of 20 and may have a genetic cause. One to two per cent of the population suffer from bipolar and up to five per cent of the population may be “on the bipolar spectrum”, according to charity Bipolar UK. 

• Self harm: Between one in 12 and one in 15 children and young people in the UK self harm to help deal with feelings of distress, according to YoungMinds, which has resource packs on the subject for young people, parents and professionals available through their ‘No Harm Done’ project.

• Drugs and alcohol: Some people use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate for the symptoms of their mental illness. However, these can make the symptoms worse and make a mental illness more difficult to treat. Mental health problems not only result from drinking too much alcohol, they can also cause people to drink too much. 

• Cannabis use: A link has been identified between cannabis use and developing schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and psychosis. Young people are twice as likely than adults to use cannabis, and people are more likely to develop depression and anxiety in young adulthood if they smoke cannabis from an early age, according to Rethink Mental Illness. Much stronger varieties of cannabis, such as skunk, are circulating today with more potential for harm.

Professional priorities

Training for all health professionals in mental health would go some way to bridging the gap between mental and physical health, said a report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Mental Health in October 2018. In addition, more investment in children and young people’s mental health services is needed to support prevention and to improve chances of recovery from mental illness, the APPG concluded. “Overall, there should be an approach that focuses on what we can do to keep people well, rather than only on what we can do when they are already sick,” said the report, which added that “a preventative approach to children’s mental health improves chances of recovery, meaning fewer years spent suffering as a young person”.

People suffering with mental illness may not be receiving the treatment they need as core services are underfunded and under pressure. “We have found that those who are sickest often wait the longest to get help,” said the APPG.

While there is now a greater awareness of mental health generally, “there are still a significant number of NHS professionals who do not have a sufficient understanding of mental illness… All members of staff need to be aware of their patient’s mental health regardless of whether they are being treated for physical or mental health problems. An undetected mental health problem can have fatal consequences,” warned
the MP-led group.

As a starting point, pharmacy teams can offer a non-judgemental listening ear and reassure children and young people that there is help available that can make a big difference, however alone they might feel.

Half of all mental health conditions start before the age of 14