News
Mental illness in Aussie kids rises
Research by an Australian doctor shows that obese, diabetic and mentally ill Australian children could be a greater burden on the country’s health system than old people.
ANU health researcher Richard Eckersley said that a number of factors were contributing towards the deteriorating health of children, including increased stress, more time spent in front of the computer or TV and changes in diet.
In particular, he argued that the mental health of children was being affected. "One of the issues here is that many adult health problems have their origins in the attitudes and behaviours and health problems as younger people," said Eckersley. "What the official view underestimates is this growing impact of the non-fatal chronic physical and mental health problems." He continued: "Mental illness accounts for about half of the burden of disease of young people measured in terms of both death and disability. "The evidence suggests that those problems are becoming worse in young people and that's why it's particularly important that we pay attention to these issues. Eckersley said that a lot of money was being spent on health, but only one third of the cash was going into preventative programmes. He described this trend as 'unsuitable' and said that some reallocation of resources is essential. A study has been scheduled to explore the issue further.
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21 January 2008