| Child and Adolescent Mental Healthby:
| |
| | someone important. Extremely fearful or
|
| Arthur Buchanan
| |
| | having unexplained fears.
|
| Mental Health Is Important
| |
| | Constantly concerned about physical
|
| Mental health is how people think, feel,
| |
| | problems or physical appearance.
|
| and act as they face life's situations.
| |
| | Frightened that his or her mind either is
|
| It affects how people handle stress,
| |
| | controlled or is out of control.
|
| relate to one another, and make
| |
| | A child or adolescent experiences big
|
| decisions. Mental health influences the
| |
| | changes, such as:
|
| ways individuals look at themselves,
| |
| | Showing declining performance in school.
|
| their lives, and others in their lives.
| |
| | Losing interest in things once enjoyed.
|
| Like physical health, mental health is
| |
| | Experiencing unexplained changes in
|
| important at every stage of life.
| |
| | sleeping or eating patterns.
|
| All aspects of our lives are affected by
| |
| | Avoiding friends or family and wanting to
|
| our mental health. Caring for and
| |
| | be alone all the time.
|
| protecting our children is an obligation
| |
| | Daydreaming too much and not completing
|
| and is critical to their daily lives and
| |
| | tasks.
|
| their independence.
| |
| | Feeling life is too hard to handle.
|
| Children and Adolescents Can Have Serious
| |
| | Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
|
| Mental Health Problems Like adults,
| |
| | Experiencing suicidal thoughts.
|
| children and adolescents can have mental
| |
| | A child or adolescent experiences:
|
| health disorders that interfere with the
| |
| | Poor concentration and is unable to think
|
| way they think, feel, and act. When
| |
| | straight or make up his or her mind.
|
| untreated, mental health disorders can
| |
| | An inability to sit still or focus
|
| lead to school failure, family conflicts,
| |
| | attention. Worry about being harmed,
|
| drug abuse, violence, and even suicide.
| |
| | hurting others, or doing something "bad".
|
| Untreated mental health disorders can be
| |
| | A need to wash, clean things, or perform
|
| very costly to families, communities, and
| |
| | certain routines hundreds of times a day,
|
| the health care system.
| |
| | in order to avoid an unsubstantiated
|
| In this fact sheet, "Mental Health
| |
| | danger.
|
| Problems" for children and adolescents
| |
| | Racing thoughts that are almost too fast
|
| refers to the range of all diagnosable
| |
| | to follow. Persistent nightmares.
|
| emotional, behavioral, and mental
| |
| | A child or adolescent behaves in ways
|
| disorders. They include depression,
| |
| | that cause problems, such as:
|
| attention- deficit/hyperactivity
| |
| | Using alcohol or other drugs.
|
| disorder, and anxiety, conduct, and
| |
| | Eating large amounts of food and then
|
| eating disorders. Mental health problems
| |
| | purging, or abusing laxatives, to avoid
|
| affect one in every five young people at
| |
| | weight gain.
|
| any given time. "Serious Emotional
| |
| | Dieting and/or exercising obsessively.
|
| Disturbances" for children and
| |
| | Violating the rights of others or
|
| adolescents refers to the above disorders
| |
| | constantly breaking the law without
|
| when they severely disrupt daily
| |
| | regard for other people.
|
| functioning in home, school, or
| |
| | Setting fires.
|
| community. Serious emotional disturbances
| |
| | Doing things that can be life
|
| affect 1 in every 10 young people at any
| |
| | threatening.
|
| given time.
| |
| | Killing animals.
|
| Mental Health Disorders Are More Common
| |
| | Comprehensive Services through Systems of
|
| in Young People than Many Realize.
| |
| | Care Can Help Some children diagnosed
|
| Studies show that at least one in five
| |
| | with severe mental health disorders may
|
| children and adolescents have a mental
| |
| | be eligible for comprehensive and
|
| health disorder. At least one in 10, or
| |
| | community-based services through systems
|
| about 6 million people, have a serious
| |
| | of care. Systems of care help children
|
| emotional disturbance.
| |
| | with serious emotional disturbances and
|
| The Causes Are Complicated
| |
| | their families cope with the challenges
|
| Mental health disorders in children and
| |
| | of difficult mental, emotional, or
|
| adolescents are caused mostly by biology
| |
| | behavioral problems. To learn more about
|
| and environment. Examples of biological
| |
| | systems of care, call the National Mental
|
| causes are genetics, chemical imbalances
| |
| | Health Information Center at
|
| in the body, or damage to the central
| |
| | 1-800-789-2647, and request fact sheets
|
| nervous system, such as a head injury.
| |
| | on systems of care and serious emotional
|
| Many environmental factors also put young
| |
| | disturbances, or visit the Center's web
|
| people at risk for developing mental
| |
| | site at
|
| health disorders. Examples include:
| |
| | Finding the Right Services Is Critical
|
| Exposure to environmental toxins, such as
| |
| | To find the right services for their
|
| high levels of lead; Exposure to
| |
| | children, families can do the following:
|
| violence, such as witnessing or being the
| |
| | Get accurate information from hotlines,
|
| victim of physical or sexual abuse,
| |
| | libraries, or other sources.
|
| drive-by shootings, muggings, or other
| |
| | Seek referrals from professionals.
|
| disasters; Stress related to chronic
| |
| | Ask questions about treatments and
|
| poverty, discrimination, or other serious
| |
| | services.
|
| hardships; and The loss of important
| |
| | Talk to other families in their
|
| people through death, divorce, or broken
| |
| | communities.
|
| relationships.
| |
| | Find family network organizations.
|
| Signs of Mental Health Disorders Can
| |
| | It is critical that people who are not
|
| Signal a Need for Help
| |
| | satisfied with the mental health care
|
| Children and adolescents with mental
| |
| | they receive discuss their concerns with
|
| health issues need to get help as soon as
| |
| | providers, ask for information, and seek
|
| possible. A variety of signs may point to
| |
| | help from other sources.
|
| mental health disorders or serious
| |
| | Important Messages About Child and
|
| emotional disturbances in children or
| |
| | Adolescent Mental Health:
|
| adolescents. Pay attention if a child or
| |
| | Every child's mental health is important.
|
| adolescent you know has any of these
| |
| | Many children have mental health
|
| warning signs:
| |
| | problems.
|
| A child or adolescent is troubled by
| |
| | These problems are real, painful, and can
|
| feeling:
| |
| | be severe.
|
| Sad and hopeless for no reason, and these
| |
| | Mental health problems can be recognized
|
| feelings do not go away. Very angry most
| |
| | and treated.
|
| of the time and crying a lot or
| |
| | Caring families and communities working
|
| overreacting to things.
| |
| | together can help.
|
| Worthless or guilty often.
| |
| | Information is available; call
|
| Anxious or worried often.
| |
| | 1-800-789-2647.
|
| Unable to get over a loss or death of
| |
| |
|
