US researchers interviewed 755 16-year-olds in 1983, of these 62 were diagnosed with minor depression. Follow-up results show that 23 of these had been treated for mental health problems by the age of 22.
Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, said: "Young people need to get help early before problems escalate to crisis point. In some parts of the country teenagers are waiting up to a year for an appointment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
"Teachers, social workers and the rest of the children's workforce must have the skills and knowledge to identify the first signs of depression."
Psychiatrists at California University and New York State Psychiatric Institute carried out the study. Findings will be published in the British Journal of Psychiatry this month.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
