Are genetic factors or parenting issues more significant in the high incidence of children with mental health problems ? It appears both, but good parenting and a secure homelife is indicated to protect young children by my reading of the information.
Are genetic factors or parenting issues more significant in the high incidence of children with mental health problems ? It appears both, but good parenting and a secure homelife is indicated to protect young children by my reading of the information.
In a 1999 survey it was found that 5% of 5-15 year olds had “clinically significant” conduct disorders, 4% had emotional disorders (anxiety and depression), 1% were hyperactive and 0.5% suffered from less common disorders such as autistic spectrum disorders and eating disorders. The overall rate of mental disorders was 10%. There were more boys than girls (11% and 8% respectively), more black children (12%) than white children (10%) Pakistani and Bangladeshi children (8%) and Indian children (4%). Looked after children are five times more likely than their peers to have a disorder. Children and young people with significant learning disabilities are three to four times more likely to have a mental disorder, and at least 40% of young offenders have been found to have a diagnosable mental disorder.
This report highlights the responsibilities of teachers as well as health specialists in identifying and supporting young people at risk. Risks were identified as lack of family support, bullying, peer pressure, boredom, worries about tests and exams – can result in truanting, being disruptive or underachieving. Bereavement, divorce and mental illness in the family can also be the cause of severe problems. Given that there are such large statistical differences between ethnic groups it suggest to me that there are two possible factors here – and both of them important. Firstly, it is indicated that some mental health problems are linked to genetic factors carried in families or particular populations. It is also true that there are different ways of parenting and bringing up children in different cultures. If would appear that both are involved to give such a high difference between black children (12% of mental problems) and Indian children (4% with mental problems). However, given that children in care are more than five times more likely to have problems suggests the issue is something to do with parenting and parent/care-child relationships. Parenting our children well should help to make them mentally stronger.
Figures from MIND, Ofsted the ONS, Department of Health and others were used in this survey to look at the incidence of mental health problems in young children published by the NERF.
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