High cost to society of anti social children

Children who display anti-social behaviour cost society 10 times
more than children with no problems, and are at high risk of
lifelong social exclusion, a study reveals, writes
Clare Jerrom.

According to the study in the British Medical Journal, crime
incurred the greatest cost, followed by special educational
provision, foster and residential care and state benefits.

The study led by Stephen Scott, lecturer in child and adolescent
psychiatry at Kings College in London, urges early intervention to
reduce the anti-social behaviour in children. Parental training
programmes could be an effective way to prevent anti-social
behaviour, according to a second study by the same researchers.

The authors suggest that although such parenting programmes are
only just becoming available in Britain, they show promise as a
cost-effective way to reduce the personal and economic burden of
anti-social behaviour in children, and to prevent criminality and
social exclusion.

* Children whose mothers are victims of
domestic violence are being failed by the health system, even
though they are at high risk of physical and psychological ill
health.

These “invisible” children should be helped through new
strategies, according to a study in the British Medical
Journal.

Researchers from the University of Cardiff and Cardiff and Vale
NHS Trust assessed 148 children living in refuges for women victims
of domestic violence. The records were unavailable for over half
the children, and the uptake of immunisations and routine health
assessments were low.

Almost half the children aged three-15 years displayed probable
mental health problems, and concerns about physical, emotional and
behavioural well-being were expressed by 76 per cent of
mothers.

The authors argue that time spent in a refuge provides an
opportunity to review the health and developmental status of these
children. They call for specialist health visitors to provide
support and advocacy, and facilitate access to mainstream
services.