Figures need to be treated with caution

The news that hundreds of children under the age of 12 are being prescribed anti-depressants is likely to spark widespread concern. Look no further than the headline and one could quite understand why the statistics would cause alarm.

Scratch beneath the surface, however, and a complex picture is uncovered.

It may not be that, as some people claimed yesterday, powerful pills are being “handed out like sweeties”.

Indeed, childcare experts were quick to urge caution. The word depression alone is enough to paint a picture, but it is worth pointing out that anti-depressants are prescribed for a range of conditions, including migraines and anxiety.

While it is right to question the new figures it is also essential to remember that people with mental health conditions deserve the best possible treatment, regardless of their age.

It is important that we treat youngsters with the same respect as any other patient — and if they are deemed to require medication so be it.

With all the pressures of modern life, young people are far from immune from feelings of low self-worth and depression. Nor are they immune from the stigma such a diagnosis can cause.

Until there is evidence that doctors are prescribing medication inappropriately we should be careful not to perpetuate that stigma.