Daily roundup 8 February: Mental health, child obesity, and alcohol

Untreated mental health issues among children could turn into psychiatric problems in later life if more is not done in schools, head teachers have warned. The BBC reports the National Association of Head Teachers said that with a fifth of children having mental health problems before the age of 11, the issue is a big concern. A survey of 1,455 heads suggested two-thirds of primary schools cannot deal with such issues.  


Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has promised a “game-changing” response from the government in relation to the rise in childhood obesity. The Guardian reports that Hunt said the government would introduce a sugar tax or something equally robust when the childhood obesity strategy is published.


A lack of support is leaving children of alcoholics to suffer in silence, a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children of Alcoholics has said. The Mirror reports the study found not one council in England offers specific help for the estimated 2.5 million children being brought up by parents who are heavy drinkers.


Families in England could be forced out of their council homes and not be able to afford alternative housing in the same area, research by the Local Government Association has suggested. The BBC reports subsidised rents for households earning more than £30,000, or £40,000 in the capital are to be scrapped in April 2017 and social housing tenants will be asked to pay rent at or near market rates. The LGA estimates some 60,000 households could be affected.


West Mercia police investigated 74 children between the age of 10 and 17 for “sexting” last year, figures have revealed. The Droitwich Standard reports that police will now champion the importance of staying safe online by talking to children at schools as part of Safer Internet Day.