The damaged generation: Over a million children have mental health problems because they grew up too quickly, claims report

Rising numbers of children are suffering from mental health problems because they are forced to grow up too quickly, a report will warn this week.

Binge-drinking, increased availability of drugs, family breakdown and pressure to look fashionable and attractive are contributing to the trend.

The latest report from The Children's Society inquiry into the state of childhood is expected to reveal that more than a million children have disorders ranging from depression, anxiety and anorexia to violent delinquency.

The report will call for action to prevent mental health problems wrecking the prospects of a generation of youngsters.

It will also urge parents to do more to steer children away from anti-social behaviour and a life of crime and unemployment.

They are expected to be encouraged to praise their children more frequently instead of repeatedly criticising them, while also establishing clear boundaries.

The fifth in a series of six themed reports, the study to be published on Thursday will focus on children's health, examining their behaviour and feelings of self-worth.

The inquiry team is headed by Stephen Scott, professor of child health and behaviour at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

It is expected to refer to figures released by the Institute last year, which showed that the number of teenagers with emotional and behavioural problems doubled between 1974 and 1999, the latest statistical group available.

The problems of social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace, which may increase pressure on children to be "cool" or "skinny" are also likely to be cited.

Last night Michele Elliott, of child protection charity Kidscape, said the report reflected the real pressures on children, for which she believes parents are "largely responsible".

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"Children are growing up more quickly and we are expecting them to grow up more quickly," she said.

'Everything is in children's faces 24 hours a day these days in terms of what is happening in the world, and that can be a problem for sensitive children.

"Drugs and alcohol are more readily available and we are forcing sexual images on children from a young age when they are not ready for it.

"The pressures on children are horrendous and I think parents are guilty of buying into it. There is huge pressure from networking websites. Whereas in the past they might have had a close group of childhood friends, children are now being given the message that they are not a whole person unless they have 392 friends online.

"The pressure is to appear cool and sophisticated, while bullying can now be done at long distance and any embarrassing minor mistake a child makes at school can be spread around the world."

The children's charity, NCH, which offers family support services across the UK, said the report was "at the heart" of its own campaign to improve children's wellbeing.

Its head of public policy, Ross Hendry, said: "We are understanding more and more the causes and extent of this problem and what we need to get to grips with is what the answers are.

"The impact of emotional wellbeing or mental health problems in children have a ripple effect right through a person's life.

"If we do not do something about this now, their social mobility will be significantly impacted on later in life and they will be more likely to pass on risk factors to their children."

The Good Childhood Inquiry is also expected to focus on childhood obesity and the sedentary lifestyles that could condemn thousands of youngsters to ill-health and an early grave.

The last report warned that many children feel pressure to have the latest toys and clothes and are left anxious and depressed if they are unable to keep up with trends.