treating children with antidepressants concerning

Media Release
August 12, 2009

mental health organisations concerned about the use of antidepressants to treat children

The Mental Health Foundation is concerned about the use of antidepressants to treat preschoolers, following recent media reports that say very young children can experience major depression.

The reports are based on a U.S. study released in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, which says that major depression can be chronic even in children as young as three years old.

The Foundation believes that the mental health of preschool children is a complex issue and medicating very young children should be avoided.

“While early treatment for depression is important at any age, the Foundation doesn’t want to see children being given powerful psychiatric drugs,” says Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. “Antidepressants have potentially severe side-effects and we fear the safety and efficacy of giving them to children; there has been little research on the effects of such medication on the very young. What we would emphasise for a child’s mental wellbeing and development is the importance of a supportive environment and sound parenting.”

Sue Treanor, Director for Workforce Development at the Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Auckland, echoes these concerns. “There is still a great deal to learn about children’s developing brains and the impacts that such medications may have,” she says. “We do know that there are well researched therapies that, along with support from families, have been shown to help children overcome emotional and behavioural difficulties.”

For parents who are concerned about their child’s mental wellbeing, the Foundation’s Resource and Information Service (www.mentalhealth.org.nz ) provides a free service to anyone who would like information. Resources are available to aid parents or guardians identify mental health issues in their children and help support a child through such experiences as separation and grief.

ENDS

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