10th October 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A research paper written by an academic the University of Cambridge has concluded that testing children’s mental health at school would enable authorities to help children who need support sooner. Author of the paper Simon Williams of the university’s Institute of Public Health argues that children as young as seven years old should be assessed in order to diagnose and treat problems sooner. Mr Williams has said that three-quarters of adult mental disorders are related to juvenile disorders, which supports the argument for early assessment of mental health. The paper concluded that treating these disorders early on would help prevent them from developing into more serious problems.
The paper argues that untreated mental health problems in youths contribute to social and economic problems later on, which can lead to crime, unemployment and suicide. Mental health problems in the UK are estimated to cost the UK £105 billion a year, spending which could be dramatically reduced if problems were diagnosed and treated earlier. Mr Williams pointed out that schools have long been used as opportunities to check children’s physical health, and that this should be expanded to checks of their mental health. Although the idea has been met with cautious approval by head teachers, concerns have been raised as to how such a scheme might be handled.
The National Association of Head Teachers has said that the idea is interesting, but that the scheme could do damage if not administered correctly. The NAHT has said that the programme would have to be carried out by experts, and not left to schools whose staff are not qualified to administrate such checks. The head teachers’ association warned of the stigma attached to mental health issues, and said that great care would have to be taken to avoid stigmatising children. The notion has been met with criticism from some parents who say that the idea is evidence of further intrusion of the state, and will look for problems where none exist. However, author of the study Mr Williams has said that assessment for all children for mental health problems could help reduce the stigma attached, and facilitate open dialogue on the subject.