Nearly one in four teenage girls suffers from depression as they struggle to cope with the pressures of life, say researchers.
Analysis shows that 24 per cent of 14-year-old girls and 9 per cent of boys that age were found to be depressed.
Data collected by the Millennium Cohort Study on more than 10,000 children born in the year 2000-01 was used by University College London and Liverpool University.
When the children were aged three, five, seven, 11 and 14, their parents were questioned about their child’s mental health and general behaviour.
Nearly one in four teenage girls suffers from depression as they struggle to cope with the pressures of life, say researchers (file photo)
At 14 years old, the children were also asked questions about their mental health from which the researchers determined whether they were suffering depression.
It shows that girls and boys have similar levels of emotional problems in childhood.
But once they hit puberty, girls are more likely to be affected by mental health problems.
Conversely, parents were more likely to identify boys with depression and fewer recognised girls were showing symptoms.
Children from richer families were less likely to report depression than their poorer peers.
Boys of all ages had greater behaviour problems than girls, the study found. Lead author Dr Praveetha Patalay said: ‘In other research, we’ve highlighted the increasing mental health difficulties faced by girls today compared to previous generations and this study further highlights the worryingly high rates of depression.’
Analysis shows that 24 per cent of 14-year-old girls and 9 per cent of boys that age were found to be depressed. Campaigners say social media is partly to blame (file photo)
Dr Marc Bush, of the charity YoungMinds, said: ‘We know that teenage girls face a huge range of pressures, including stress at school, body image issues, bullying and the pressure created by social media. Difficult experiences in childhood, including bereavement, domestic violence or neglect, can also have a serious impact, often several years later.’
Claire Murdoch, national mental health director at NHS England, said: ‘NHS services for children and young people are expanding at their fastest rate in a decade.
‘This year, the NHS will treat an additional 30,000 children and young people, supported by an extra £280million of funding.’
Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau, added: ‘This study of thousands of children gives us the most compelling evidence available about the extent of mental ill health among children in the UK.
‘With a quarter of 14-year-old girls showing signs of depression, it’s now beyond doubt that this problem is reaching crisis point.
‘Worryingly there is evidence that parents may be underestimating their daughters’ mental health needs. Conversely, parents may be picking up on symptoms in their sons, which boys don’t report themselves.
‘It’s vital that both children and their parents can make their voices heard to maximise the chances of early identification and access to specialist support.’