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One in 10 children has a clinically diagnosed mental disorder, according to figures released today, writes Maria Ahmed.

A national survey of 5-16 year-olds by the Office of National Statistics found the most common diagnosis was conduct disorder followed by anxiety or depression.

The figures also showed that children with mental disorders were much more likely than other children to have time off school, and as many as one in three with conduct disorder were excluded from school.

The prevalence of mental disorders was greater among children in lone parent compared with two-parent families, and children with mental disorders were more likely to be living in “hard-pressed” areas, the survey found.

Over a half of children with emotional disorders, such as anxiety or depression, had experienced their parents’ separation and over a quarter had a parent who had a serious mental illness.

 
Among young people aged 11–16 who had an emotional disorder, 28 per cent said that they had tried to harm or kill themselves, while a quarter of parents of autistic children reported that their child had tried to harm or kill themselves.

 
The 2004 survey was the second national survey of the mental health of children and young people, following the first survey in 1999.

It found there was no difference in the prevalence of children and young people with mental disorders between 1999 and 2004.

Mental health of children and young people in Britain 2004 from: www.statistics.gov.uk