According to an analysis, 95% of pediatricians have detected this increase in cases in their consultations
One of the main problems of the increase in disorders is the use of screens, according to pediatricians
The president of the SPI assures that more professionals are needed for child and adolescent mental health
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) has warned about the situation of “absolute emergency“in which the mental health of children and adolescents in the country due to increase in disorders recorded in recent years, especially after the arrival of Covid-19.
“If before the pandemic the situation was already complicated, since approximately 10% of children and 20% of adolescents suffered from some type of mental disorder, the current scenario is one of absolute emergency, since the number has soared up to 47% since then“said the coordinator of the Mental Health Committee of the Spanish Pediatric Association, Paula Armero, during a press conference held in Madrid this Thursday.
The AEP assures that the numbers of this mental illness among this sector of the population have not stopped growing in recent years and point out that the 95% of pediatricians They have detected it in their consultations, according to an analysis published in Anales de Pediatría.
Problems affecting young people
Armero has stressed that these problems that affect young people and adolescents are reflected in “symptoms of depression, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety and behavioral changes“. Likewise, he added that “the disorders derived from conflictive separations between parents” are observed.
However, what is most worrying experts at the moment are cases of bullying at school and through social networks. “Where minors spend the most time is in schools and institutes. If that environment is not safe, it greatly affects how they are formed until adulthood“Armero explained, while recalling that “minors need to be treated with respect by their own peers.”
For his part, the president of the Society of Child Psychiatry (SPI), Pedro J. Rodríguez, has expressed his concern with the cases related to the harassment through social networks and overuse of screens has produced an important part of the socialization of adolescents through the social networks, that have replaced other types of social relations. That feeling of impunity generated by being behind a screen means that cases of harassment on social networks have tripled,” he expressed.
Screens and networks are not used appropriately, but rather they are abused, argues Armero.
In turn, Armero added that every day there is “more evidence that adequate use of screens and networks is not madebut rather they are abused.”
Improve the situation
For all this, and under the motto ‘Pediatrics and mental health: building healthy futures’the 13,000 pediatricians who make up the AEP have wanted to call for action in the face of the situation of child and adolescent mental health.
Thus, on the occasion of Pediatrics Daywhich is celebrated on October 8, have prepared a manifesto addressed to health, educational and social authorities, as well as institutions, in which proposals are made to confront this crisis and stop the increase in cases during the early stages of life.
In the manifesto, the AEP warns about the increase in these disorderswhich is considered an emergency in professional consultations. To achieve this, they believe it is necessary to implement mental health prevention programs from the first levels of care.
“20% more” professionals are needed “throughout Spain,” says Rodríguez
At the same time, they consider that there is a lack of professionals specialized in mental health. “It is difficult to say a specific number of professionals needed in the specialty, but we estimate that 20% more throughout Spain“Rodríguez noted.
In this sense, the vice president of Primary Care of the AEP, Guillermo Martín, has regretted that “patients, at least in Madrid, They may have waiting lists of between 6 and 9 months to be seen for the first time“.
Likewise, the manifesto calls for multidisciplinary attention; act in time due to increase in severity of cases, and highlights the importance of the role of families in children’s mental health.
Recognition of specialties
The last point of the manifesto focuses on the recognition of pediatric specialties. In this sense, the AEP points out that the recognition of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as a specialty has been a significant advance that responds to the evolution of scientific knowledge and the growing demand for care in this area.
However, they consider that this measure is insufficient to face current challenges. In Spain, pediatric specialty clinics have already been created that do not yet have official recognition, despite the fact that the AEP has been claiming it for more than a decade.
In this way, they emphasize that the lack of recognition It makes the adequate training of professionals and the organization of healthcare resources difficult, so the procedures to achieve this officialization should be much more simplified.
“Protecting the physical and mental health of children and adolescents is a priority in which we must all work together. We urge health authorities, health, educational and social service managers, and society as a whole, to support this cause and provide the necessary resources to build a healthy future for our people. next generations“, concluded the president of the AEP, Luis Carlos Blesa.