Soaring numbers of children are being prescribed antidepressants, a study has found.

The number of children being given the drugs increased by more than 50 per cent between 2005 and 2012, researchers discovered.

Usage in Britain fell in 2004 following a warning antidepressants could lead to suicidal behaviour in young people.

But the new study suggests there has been a resurgence in the UK as well as in the US and across Europe.

Today, experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) called the rise 'concerning'.

The number of British children prescribed antidepressants has soared by 54 per cent in 7 years, a study has found (file photo)

Dr Shekhar Saxena, the WHO's director of mental health, said: 'Antidepressant use among young people is and has been a matter of concern because of two reasons.

'One, are more people being prescribed antidepressants without sufficient reason? And second, can antidepressants do any major harm?'

He also said that the organisation was worried young people were being given drugs not licensed for under-18s.

The study looked at patterns of antidepressant use in children and teenagers from five western countries between 2005 and 2012.

In the period examined, there was a 54 per cent increase in the number of young people prescribed antidepressants in the UK.

This was compared with rises of 60 per cent in Denmark, 49 per cent in Germany, 26 per cent in the US and 17 per cent in the Netherlands, the BBC reports.

Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) state the drugs should not be used to treat mild depression in children.

Even when they are used to treat a child with moderate to severe depression, they should not be used except in combination with psychological therapy.

Dr Maureen Baker, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said antidepressants would rarely be the first treatment option for children and young people.

The World Health Organisation said the rise is 'concerning' as it is not known whether taking antidepressants at a young age can be harmful (file photo)

But some GPs have no other options as waiting times for psychological therapy are so long.

Dr Baker said: 'With such long waits for patients to see a specialist or to get a psychological therapy referral, drug therapy is sometimes seen as the only option for GPs to best support patients, who may be in extreme distress, and their family.

'We have been recommending for some time that in future, as part of an enhanced four-year training programme, all GP trainees should receive specialist-led training in mental health and child health.

'These measures truly would help to ensure that our young patients with mental health conditions receive the most appropriate treatment, and the same level of care as those with physical health problems, wherever in the country they live.'