Children as young as four in primary school are already showing signs of depression, anxiety and panic attacks, according to 96 percent of teachers in a new survey.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) in the U.K. polled 1,359 members of the teacher's union in relation to their student's mental health issues. Of the teachers who reported seeing signs of mental health struggles in their classroom, 92 percent said that their students have anxiety or panic attacks.
Some 80 percent of the teachers said that their students showed signs of depression while 67 percent said that the kids were self-harming. At least 49 percent and 45 percent also said that the children were struggling with eating disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Fourteen percent of the kids who had mental health issues are from the ages of four to seven, while 27 percent are from the ages of seven to 11. Sixty percent of the kids from 11 to 16, on the other hand, have mental issues that have started affecting their performance in class or their ability to make friends among their peers.
The teachers cite three major stressors for children: family (86 percent), school exams (66 percent) and social media (64 percent). Some 86 percent of the teachers also said they know that their students have been sharing sexually explicit content with each other or have experienced bullying and sexual harassment.
"Teachers have never before had to deal with such a complex range of pupil welfare issues as they do today," NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates stated in the report. "The pressure on teachers and headteachers is enormous and is putting at risk their own mental and physical health and wellbeing."
The Department of Education said it has pledged £1.7 billion ($2.39 billion) in funds to support the improvement of mental health services available to young people and has drawn up proposals that would see schools partner with the NHS on better support and intervention.
