According to an opinion poll published by The Children’s Society, 27% of UK teenagers say they “often feel depressed”. The poll, part of the Good Childhood Inquiry revealed that just 9% of adult respondents felt children are happier today than when they were growing up.
The poll was carried out by the GfK NOP and commissioned by The Children’s Society. Evidence was gathered from members of the public as well as health care professionals, with some surprising data about children’s mental health and well-being.
— A Children’s Society survey of 8,000 14-16 year olds found that 27% of young people agreed with this statement “I often feel depressed”.
— A CBBC Newsround survey of 462 children revealed that 78% of them said they felt fine, good or really good about their health, while 22% said they felt bad or really bad.
— A CBBC Newsround survey of 664 children found that 70% of them said they diet some or all of the time. The same survey found that a large percentage of children feel under pressure to look good.
* CBBC = Children’s BBC
A sizeable number of children feel it is important to be free of pressure, stress and worry. The children linked pressure to school, family expectations, bullying, peer pressure/influence, and their looks.
When asked what had the most negative impact on children’s well-being, adults rated family breakdown and conflict (29%) and peer pressure (23%) highly.
Professor Stephen Scott, Institute of Psychiatry, an Inquiry Panel member, said “Many respondents to the inquiry shared the belief that well being depends on good relationships, especially within the family; on a sense of purpose and on freedom. To achieve this, child mental health and well being must be everybody’s business. Support for parents is crucial; schooling has a key part to play; and providing the effective treatments now available for children with mental health problems takes time, skill and resources.”
Bob Reitemeier, CEO, The Children’s Society, said “There is a growing recognition of the true cost of neglecting children’s mental health and well being. Too often mental health and well being have been dismissed as being of little importance but there is now an understanding that if we want to give children a better childhood these matters must be addressed. We now need to translate this growing concern into action and investment in the necessary support services.”
66% of the GfK NOP respondents said that such indoor activities as computer games and watching TV are making children less physically active. 88% felt children need more education about following a healthy diet. 95% agreed that physical health has an important impact on mental health.
— The public can contribute to The Good Childhood Inquiry by logging on to www.hundredsandthousands.org.uk.
— Evidence summaries for health and the previous themes of family, friends, learning and lifestyle.
— Good Childhood: what you told us about health, a summary of the health evidence submitted to The Good Childhood Inquiry can be downloaded from www.goodchildhood.org.uk
— The Reflections on Childhood – health poll was conducted by GfK NOP who carried out a total of 1,176 telephone interviews with a sample of UK adults aged 18 or over. Fieldwork took place from 7 January to 28 January 2008. The data was weighted to ensure it was representative of the UK population. A summary of the findings can be downloaded from www.goodchildhood.org.uk
— The Good Childhood Inquiry – the UK’s first independent national inquiry into childhood – is managed by The Children’s Society. The inquiry’s final report and recommendations will be published in early 2009.
The Children’s Society is driven by the belief that every child deserves a good childhood. It provides vital help and understanding for those forgotten children who face the greatest danger, discrimination or disadvantage; children who are unable to find the support they need anywhere else. Visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk.
Written by – Christian Nordqvist