Children with severe mental or behavioural issues are almost twice as likely to have symptoms of depression in mid-life and two-thirds more likely to have limited ability to work, according to new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Extensive new analysis by the think tank, following individuals born in a single week in 1970 throughout their lives, finds that mental health problems at age 10 have significant implications 40 years on.
The authors found that children with severe mental and behavioural problems are 85 per cent more likely to have symptoms of depression at age 51 and 68 per cent more likely to have a long-term condition that impacts their ability to work.
The correlation also extends to poor physical health, as children with a physical health problem are 38 per cent more likely to have limited capacity for work later in life.
The health of children doesn’t just affect their work prospects later in life, but affects those around them in the here and now. For every four children developing a long-term health condition, one of their mothers is likely to leave the workforce altogether.
As one in five children in England currently have a probable mental health issue, and one in four are obese due to lack of access to healthy, affordable food where they live. These are burgeoning pressures on public services now, and in the future. The researchers say it is a social and economic imperative to improve children’s health.
The findings underscore the long-term impacts of untreated mental or behavioural issues and highlight the urgent need for early intervention to prevent soaring demand on the NHS, council services and social security system. IPPR says significant investment, regulation and political action is needed
Dr Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at IPPR, said:
“The earlier we address both physical and mental health challenges children, the more likely we can prevent costly health conditions and worklessness later in life. This is not just a matter of improving individual lives, but also of alleviating long-term pressures on the state.”
