Statistics on pre-school children’s mental health published for the first time
The Department of Health has published the Mental Health of Children and Young
People in England prevalence survey 2017, which includes statistics on the mental health of pre-school children for the first time.
The findings show that one in eighteen two to four-year-olds has a condition that meets diagnostic thresholds – which, by definition, causes them significant distress or impairs their functioning.
While this is low compared to older groups it disguises significant differences. For example, 9.2% of two to four-year-olds in the North of England (12.9% of boys) met diagnostic thresholds, compared to 3.3% in the South.
Read the full statistical release here.