Childhood mental illness rates ‘have quadrupled’
The use of depression medication among children in the UK has quadrupled in the last ten years with over 600,000 prescriptions being written out for the under-16s suffering mental health problems in the last year.
GPs have been accused of handing out medication too freely because youngsters may get used to taking medication for their depression rather than getting to the source of their problem.
According to figures from the Office of National Statistics, one in ten children has some form of mental disorder, be it depression, anorexia or others. Frequent high-stress examinations and family breakdowns are just two of the cited causes for the rise in childhood mental illness.
Drugs Online - Buy Drugs Online at reasanoble prices.DrugOnline.cc provides confortable and easy way to order drugs online including drugs free shipping.
“In a sense, it shows some of the pressure many youngsters are under - their lives are chaotic and there isn’t as much stability at home,” said David Laws, the Liberal Democrats’ children’s secretary.
“But instead of trying to treat the causes and create a more stable and supportive environment for young people, we think we can solve these problems by prescribing a pill.”
Although guidelines prohibit the prescription of anti-depressant Seroxat to under-18s, Prozac is still routinely prescribed.