Treatment rates for kids with mental illnesses are worryingly low

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-10-19 02:00

Australia; International

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Chinese scientists say treatment rates for children and adolescents with mental health issues around the world are low, with fewer than two-in-five (38%) kids receiving treatment overall. The team brought together and reanalysed the data from 40 previous studies, including two studies from Australia, totalling more than 300,000 children. They found that, globally, just over one-in-three kids (36%) with depression are receiving treatment, just under one-in-three (31%) with anxiety are receiving treatment, just under three-in-five (58%) with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are receiving treatment, and around half (49%) with behaviour disorders are receiving treatment. The team says these treatment rates are concerningly low, especially for depression and anxiety. They suggest the introduction of targeted intervention policies and more effective measures to ensure kids can access the treatments they need.

Media release

From: JAMA

Treatment Rates for Mental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents

About The Study: The results of this meta-analysis of 40 studies including 310,000 children and adolescents suggest that, in general, the treatment rates for mental disorders among children and adolescents were low, especially for depression and anxiety. Targeted intervention policies and effective measures should be designed and implemented to improve treatment rates of psychiatric disorders among youths.

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Kunming Medical University, China

Funder: This study was supported by grants 82360670, 82060601, and 72264019 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China; grant YNWR-QNBJ-2018-286 from the Top Young Talents of Yunnan Ten Thousand Talents Plan; grant 202101AY070001-051 from the Applied Foundation of Kunming Medical University and Yunnan Provincial Department of Science; and grant 2020DAMARA-006 from the NHC Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction Medicine.

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