Children younger than six are being prescribed antidepressants by GPs in England, according to new statistics.

Doctors handed out 198,906 prescriptions for drugs to treat depression and anxiety to children younger than 18 between April 2015 and September 2016.

Out of these prescriptions, 12,756 were given to children aged seven to 12, and 617 were assigned to those aged younger than six.

Experts called the figures 'worrying' and warned doctors could be using medication as a 'sticking plaster' to cover poor access to mental health treatment.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence say antidepressants should only by prescribed to children under 18 with moderate or severe depression.

Children younger than six are being prescribed antidepressants by GPs, according to figures

'SUICIDE RISK' TO TEENAGERS WHO TAKE ANTIDEPRESSANTS Teenagers who take common antidepressants are more likely to feel suicidal, according to a study released last year. A major study concluded children and adolescents have a doubled risk of aggression or suicidal behaviour when taking one of five common drugs to combat depression. The experts accused drug firms of failing to record the risks properly – and warned young people’s antidepressant use should be ‘minimal’. Experts said the ‘worrying’ findings, published in the British Medical Journal, should make doctors think about whether to rely on the drugs. Advertisement

Why are more children taking depression medication?

The data was obtained by a Freedom of Information request sent by The Times.

Marc Bush, a senior policy adviser at the Young Minds charity, told The Times the figures could reflect a lack of access to children's mental health services.

He said: 'The rise in the number of children and young people being prescribed antidepressants is worrying.

'Long waiting times and high thresholds for treatment mean that GPs may feel under pressure to prescribe antidepressants to children.

'There can be a place for medication in treating young people's mental health problems, but it shouldn't be used as a sticking plaster for poor access to talking therapies.'

It is possible the statistics may also include treatment for other issues affecting children, such as epileptic fits or bedwetting.

Doctors handed out 198,906 prescriptions for antidepressants to under-18s from 2015 to 2016

A growing trend

Rates of depression and anxiety among teenagers have soared by 70 per cent in the past 25 years, according to Young Minds.

Experts have previously blamed pressure to do well in exams and a disconnect between parents and their children for the rise in mental health issues among young people.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care dictate that antidepressants should only be offered to under-18s who have moderate to severe depression.

Drugs should also only be offered alongside psychological treatment.

The guidelines also state that fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac, should be given to five to 11-year-old with 'caution' and only when psychological therapy doesn't help.