Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show antidepressant use in children under 16 has risen by six per cent.
More than 113,000 prescriptions of anti-depressants were issued to children under 16 in 2007 and nearly 108,000 to 16 to 18-year-olds.
The Telegraph claims the prescription of pills for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also rose by 33 per cent from 2005 to 2007.
The figures show there were 420,000 prescriptions issued for ADHD medication to children under the age of 16 in 2007, equating to 35,000 children being on the drugs in England.
Use of the drugs for older children, between the ages of 16 and 18, has risen even more sharply, by 51 per cent to 40,000 in 2007.
The data also shows more than 86,000 prescriptions were written for anti-psychotics for children under 16.
Commenting on the figures, Anne Milton, Conservative shadow health minister, said: 'We already know that our children suffer the lowest levels of well-being in Europe.
'This data shows that increasingly health professionals are prescribing drugs to treat child mental health problems, when evidence suggests that talking therapies can have an equal, if not better effect.
'These drugs have significant risks when given to children and young people, making this rise extremely concerning.'
The Telegraph quotes a spokesman for the Department of Health as responding with: 'National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) guidance is clear that antidepressants should rarely be prescribed to children and young people and only as part of a treatment regime, stressing that other treatment options should be considered first.'
More than 113,000 prescriptions of anti-depressants were issued to children under 16 in 2007 and nearly 108,000 to 16 to 18-year-olds.
The Telegraph claims the prescription of pills for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also rose by 33 per cent from 2005 to 2007.
The figures show there were 420,000 prescriptions issued for ADHD medication to children under the age of 16 in 2007, equating to 35,000 children being on the drugs in England.
Use of the drugs for older children, between the ages of 16 and 18, has risen even more sharply, by 51 per cent to 40,000 in 2007.
The data also shows more than 86,000 prescriptions were written for anti-psychotics for children under 16.
Commenting on the figures, Anne Milton, Conservative shadow health minister, said: 'We already know that our children suffer the lowest levels of well-being in Europe.
'This data shows that increasingly health professionals are prescribing drugs to treat child mental health problems, when evidence suggests that talking therapies can have an equal, if not better effect.
'These drugs have significant risks when given to children and young people, making this rise extremely concerning.'
The Telegraph quotes a spokesman for the Department of Health as responding with: 'National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) guidance is clear that antidepressants should rarely be prescribed to children and young people and only as part of a treatment regime, stressing that other treatment options should be considered first.'
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