Fatherlessness, and family breakdown are the primary cause for stress and anxiety in children, and the resulting personality disorders and more serious mental illness. There is a wide body of research confirming the damage caused to children's emotional and psychological development resulting from the breakdown in their parents' relationship. The consequences of losing contact, and a relationship with one of the parents (mostly the father) are even more serious. Yet the government and authorities are turning a blind eye to the impact the family breakdown and divorce industry have on our children and their future. Instead of assuring that children continue to have a loving and caring relationship with both parents after they separate, the government through its tax incentives encourages and supports the breakdown of families, creating feral anxious, and stressed children. It is much easier, and significantly cheaper to the country and tax payer to assure that children continue to have contact with both parents than having to treat them for stress, anxiety, alcohol and drug additions, Obsessive compulsive behaviours, mental illness and personality disorders. Put Fathers back into the lives of children!

While I agree with A Peterson's comments about the deterioration of families, there may be more than one cause for the increases in mental health problems in our children.

After doing some web research of my own, I've found that aspartame consumed by children results in higher suicide rates, higher rates of depression, ADD, ADHD, and more. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame and pay special attention to the Health Risks Controversy. You may also be interested in reading "Sweet Poison," one woman's story of her experience with aspartame poisoning which resulted in Grave's Disease, serious migraines, irreversible retinal tearing, and more (http://www.sweetpoison.com/).

it would be worth some objective studies to determine a) if aspartame is truly safe and b) whether the claims about its contributions to mental instability are true as well.