Facebook making record numbers of British children mentally ill, NHS boss warns
Simon Stevens claims mental health problems as a result of social media are 'much higher' than previously thought
ONLINE giants such as Facebook and Google are fuelling record levels of anxiety in kids, says the NHS’ boss.
Simon Stevens claims research will reveal mental health problems as a result of social media are “much higher” than previously thought.
The NHS England chief executive believes the NHS needs a “major ramp up” to deal with the problem.
He warned officials must look at the “root causes” behind the epidemic of poor mental health in young Brits.
In an interview with The House magazine, he added: “The last survey that was done of children and young people’s mental health problems is a number of years out of date now and the new survey results will be published later this year.
“I think they are bound to show the level of undiagnosed mental health problems and distress among young people is much higher than has officially previously been recorded.
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He added: “There is a growing awareness that alongside some of the positive aspects of children’s online experience and social media, there are some important negatives.”
Liverpool University researchers last year warned teenage depression has reached crisis point, with one in four UK girls affected.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has accused social media firms of “turning a blind eye” to the harm they are causing kids — and threatened them with new laws unless they act.
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