More than a quarter of 14 to 16-year-olds questioned said that they frequently felt depressed.

A leading child psychiatrist said more support, and resources, for parents was essential to tackle the problem.

But one adolescent mental health specialist said children who described feeling sad, even regularly, may not actually have a depressive illness.

In 2007, UNICEF rated the UK bottom of a league of industrialised countries for child well-being, saying our children were under-educated, unhappy and unhealthy compared with other European countries.

Results from the surveys, one by NOP of 8,000 teenagers, and another conducted by BBC’s Newsround programme, were published as part of the society’s report into child health.

A total of 27% of those questioned agreed with the statement: “I often feel depressed”.

In the Newsround survey many children said they felt under pressure from school, their classmates, and family expectations.

Seven out of ten said they felt the need to “look good”, and were on a diet some or all of the time.

BBC News 24/4/08