As stats reveal one in 10 youngsters, some as young as five, suffer mental health disorders, Closer investigates what's behond the rise, and speaks to one mum about her daughter's depression...
It might seem like something more commonly associated with adults, but mental health issues are becoming an increasing problem among young children and teens.
According to the Office for National Statistics, one in 10 five to 16-year-olds, have mental health disorders and nearly 80,000 youngsters suffer from severe depression.
Shockingly, for many children their feelings spiral out of control and the number of hospital admissions for younger people self harming has risen by 68 per cent in the last decade in the UK.
Supermodel Cara Delevigne has spoken about her battle with depression as a teen. Emma Saddleton, helpline manager at charity Young Minds, receives 11,000 calls a year from worried parents. She says: "We're seeing a rise in calls as people are becoming more aware about mental health problems. Children are more suseptible to mental health issues such as cyber bullying- they can't escape the bullies due to social media. Life is more pressured for them, and with tests like SATs they are constantly being examined."
Senior Consultant Psychiatrist with the NHS Dr Ramya Mohan adds:
"More young people are attaining GCSEs of 5 or more, which can increase competition, exam pressure and the likelihood of mental health difficulties like depression .
"Substance misuse and dependence has increased over the past decade due to ease of access, better knowledge of legal highs and more peer pressure and this can cause mental health problems."
Helen Klimkowicz understands the pain of coping with a child suffering from mental illness. Her daughter, 16-year-old Hannah, was 14 when she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and is still taking antidepressants to cope.
Teaching assistant Helen, who runs a support group for parents of children with mental illness, says: "I watched Hannah go from a happy child to a shell of her former self. She became withdrawn and refused to go to school. She even turned to self harming. I felt so powerless.
"Fortunately we got help through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and Hannah is now taking antidepressants and coping well. But I want to raise awareness about mental health issues so parents can spot the signs and get help."
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The Mental Health Foundation has said that if we are serious about preventing people from developing mental health problems then we have to deliver on early intervention with a focus on children and young people. Visit Mentalhealth.org.uk for more info.
By Francine Anker