Experts say 8 to 12 are years kids hit with mental health decline

Eight years old is now the age that children start to experience serious mental health decline, with a shock new report revealing that age 10 use to be the start of the danger zone.

Eight years old is now the age that children start to experience serious mental health decline, with a shock new report revealing that the danger age has dropped from aged 10.

Australia’s leading children’s mental health not-for-profit organisation has opened up the extent of the struggles in children from kindy to primary school age and have exposed that more than one third of children aged four and five feel low levels of wellbeing.

The Smiling Mind’s survey of almost 3000 children aged four to 12 and their parents highlights how the rising levels of stress and anxiety in parents is wearing off on their offspring. Cost of living and parental responsibilities are weighing heavily on mums and dads.

Wellbeing declined with age, with eight to 12 year old showing much lower levels of wellbeing (48 per cent) than the four to five year olds at 64 per cent.

Smiling Mind chief executive Sarah La Roche said the research indicated that although caregivers reported their children as coping well day-to-day, a substantial proportion (61 per cent) highlighted their children are experiencing signs of stress, anxiety, and depression.

“The results reinforce the critical need for early intervention and equipping children with

the skills to respond to challenges before they arise. Implementing child mental health

initiatives focused on children under the age of 12, with increased investment and focus

must be a priority for tackling this crisis,” she said.

Smiling Mind chief programs officer and report co-Author Kerrie Buhagiar said the

results indicate an underlying level of mental ill health in Australian children and while

children are coping, they’re displaying some worrying signs.

“Of particular concern, the results highlight a steady decline in average wellbeing as

children reach the eight to 12-year-old age group. This is earlier than what has been seen in

previous studies where the wellbeing has declined at around the age of 10 years,” she

said.

The report also showed high rates of stress and anxiety in parents and caregivers. Overall, 85 per cent reported experiencing at least some signs or symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges.

Dr Buhagiar said, caregiver mental health was critical as the research pointed to a strong

association between parental mental ill health and that of their children.

“Parents and caregivers who self-reported experiencing mental ill health were significantly more likely to report similar symptoms in their children. The parenting responsibilities can be extremely demanding, compounded by the current economic climate, and we know that parents show greater rates of stress and anxiety than the general population,” she said.

Originally published as Experts say 8 to 12 are years kids hit with mental health decline