Barnardo’s has long warned that as a society we are sleepwalking into a mental health crisis. Childhood – including adolescence – has always been challenging, especially for the children Barnardo’s supports. The children and young people who come to our services have often experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences and or trauma (ACEs) – such as abuse or neglect, growing up in a household with domestic violence, or having parents who suffer from addiction or mental health problems.
We know all these factors make it more likely that young people will develop mental health problems, which can stay with them into adulthood. Half of all adult mental health problems appear before the age 14, with three quarters, (75 per cent) of lifetime mental conditions present by the age of 24.
This report demonstrates the need to identify children at risk of mental health problems and help them to access the right support as early as possible.
Keywords: Mental health; early support
