Being a kid not child's play
2003-10-01 22:30
Cape Town - Mental health problems among children in South Africa are as common as physical illnesses such as asthma.
On the eve of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the Mental Health Information Centre of South Africa said an increasing number of children suffered from emotional problems such as depression, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress and eating- and behavioural disorders.
The World Health Organisation reported recently that an estimated 20% of all children and teenagers in the world have mental health problems that are serious enough to warrant professional attention, but that only one in five of these children actually received treatment.
The South African centre added that families were often reluctant to admit mental health problems or to seek help.
"In the case of most emotional problems, early intervention yields the best results," the centre said in a statement.
The WHO warned that it was possible that emotional and behavioural disorders among children could increase by as much as 50% by 2020.