23.01.14
Early intervention vital for behavioural problems
Health professionals must be able to identify and offer appropriate support for children with severe behavioural problems, the Centre for Mental Health has urged.
Its new report, Building a better future, sets out the health and social benefits of early intervention in children with conduct disorder.
Children with severe behavioural problems often develop major disadvantages in life expectancy, teenage pregnancy, drug dependency, education and crime. Conduct disorder affects around 5% of children aged 5-10, the majority of them male.
The Centre for Mental Health has estimated the lifetime costs of conduct disorder at around £260,000 per child – but points out that parenting programmes, costing just £1,300, can significantly mitigate or reduce the negative life consequences.
The centre has produced a series of briefings to help GPs, nurses and other professionals to identify behavioural problems and to know how to offer the right help.
Sean Duggan, chief executive of Centre for Mental Health said: “This substantial piece of work from our experts at the Centre illustrates, in clear terms, the overwhelming evidence for investment in early intervention in the form of parenting programmes. Not only does it shine a light on the economic benefits, which make ripples across a number of different budgets in the public sector, but it looks at the important experience of parents.
“In our work at the Centre we research ways in which having a mental health problem can make lives harder, shorter and poorer. This is at its starkest for children with conduct disorder. Yet the solution is inexpensive and highly effective. So investing in cost effective parenting programmes is not only the smart thing to do, but the right thing to do.”
Lorraine Khan, associate director for children and young people at Centre for Mental Health said: “Talking to parents about their first-hand experiences has shown just how helpful these parenting support groups can be, when trying to manage persistently challenging behaviour in children. Simple techniques picked up through well-run programmes make a real difference to families’ stress levels , often relatively quickly.
“What this work also makes clear is how many different professionals and services come into contact with children with behavioural difficulties and their parents. Clearer signposting to effective parenting programmes could change their lives dramatically. Our briefings will help them know how to encourage a parent to seek help and how to find out what support is available locally.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]