The mental health of young people: the view from primary care

Journal article

SETTING THE SCENEChildren and young people's (CYP) mental health services are the 'Cinderella of the Cinderella services' by being chronically underfunded and undervalued. Fifty per cent of mental illness begins prior to the age of 14 years and 75% by the age of 24 years. 1,2lthough effective treatments are available, less than one-half of those who need such treatment receive it. 1 Mental illness in CYP can have detrimental effects on educational, physical, and social development with enduring consequences into adulthood. Therefore it is crucial that CYP are able to access appropriate, welcoming, and effective mental health services when they need it. CYP who present to their GP are twice as likely to have a mental health problem, which may manifest as physical health complaints (headache, abdominal pain, and poor sleep). 3Within general practice there is an excess of oppositional defiant disorders seen in pre-school children and emotional disorders exceeding conduct disorders in school children and adolescents. Mental health illness in adolescent surgery attenders is linked with increased intensity and impairment of physical symptoms and increased exposure to illicit drugs. 4A 2016 survey of 302 GPs reported that 78% of GPs are seeing more CYP with mental illness and 61% are seeing more young people self-harming than 5 years ago. 5.

Authors: Mughal, F; England, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
• Journal: British Journal of General Practice
• Volume: 66
• Issue: 651
• Pages: 502-503
• Publication date: 2016-09-29
• DOI: 10.3399/bjgp16x687133
• EISSN: 1478-5242
• ISSN: 0960-1643
• Language: English
• Keywords: Primary care; Environmental health; Family medicine; Psychiatry; Population; Computer science; Medicine; Primary health care; Mental health; Data science