Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often starts in the sufferer's childhood or teen years. But it's estimated that, on average, it's around 10 or 12 years before the sufferer's OCD tends to get diagnosed.
That would suggest that there are an awful lot of primary and secondary schoolchildren who are suffering from this illness -- and getting no help.
There is help available to people affected by OCD (and other anxiety disorders) in the UK -- but the sufferer's OCD needs to get diagnosed, and they need to be referred to an appropriate medical or mental health professional, in order to get that help and treatment.
If you're the parent of a child or teenager who is affected by OCD -- or if you are concerned that they might be affected by OCD -- then you could take a look at our Useful Links For Parents page. This page contains links for a number of services, websites and organisations, including the Institute of Psychiatry (King's College London), OCD at School, NHS Choices, and others.
There's a lot of help available -- you just need to find out where to look.
That would suggest that there are an awful lot of primary and secondary schoolchildren who are suffering from this illness -- and getting no help.
There is help available to people affected by OCD (and other anxiety disorders) in the UK -- but the sufferer's OCD needs to get diagnosed, and they need to be referred to an appropriate medical or mental health professional, in order to get that help and treatment.
If you're the parent of a child or teenager who is affected by OCD -- or if you are concerned that they might be affected by OCD -- then you could take a look at our Useful Links For Parents page. This page contains links for a number of services, websites and organisations, including the Institute of Psychiatry (King's College London), OCD at School, NHS Choices, and others.
There's a lot of help available -- you just need to find out where to look.
londonocd.net