Teenagers need better depression treatments

More needs to be done to aid the recovery of teenagers with mental health issues.

Dr Graham J Emslie, director of child psychiatry at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, used his role as guest editor of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology to raise awareness of the issue.

He said that very few adolescents get adequate treatment for depression, and the situation is similar in the UK.

"There are no radically new treatments on the horizon for the treatment of depression, and so we have to do better with the treatments we have available," said Dr Emslie.

His comments were echoed by Dr Harold S Koplewicz, editor-in-chief of the publication and president of the Child Mind Institute.

He claimed that depression among young people and teens is a "major health concern", but said few people are willing to talk about it.

Lord Richard Layard agreed that the UK needs a greater focus on mental health.

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