Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Mental Health Is ImportantMental health is how peopleto handle.Hearing voices that cannot be
think, feel, and act as they face life's situations. Itexplained.Experiencing suicidal thoughts.A child or
affects how people handle stress, relate to oneadolescent experiences:Poor concentration and is
another, and make decisions. Mental health influencesunable to think straight or make up his or her mind.An
the ways individuals look at themselves, their lives, andinability to sit still or focus attention.
others in their lives. Like physical health, mental health isWorry about being harmed, hurting others, or doing
important at every stage of life.All aspects of our livessomething "bad".A need to wash, clean things, or
are affected by our mental health. Caring for andperform certain routines hundreds of times a day, in
protecting our children is an obligation and is critical toorder to avoid an unsubstantiated danger.Racing
their daily lives and their independence.Children andthoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
Adolescents Can Have Serious Mental HealthPersistent nightmares.A child or adolescent behaves in
Problemsways that cause problems, such as:Using alcohol or
Like adults, children and adolescents can have mentalother drugs.Eating large amounts of food and then
health disorders that interfere with the way they think,purging, or abusing laxatives, to avoid weight
feel, and act. When untreated, mental health disordersgain.Dieting and/or exercising obsessively.Violating the
can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse,rights of others or constantly breaking the law without
violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental healthregard for other people.Setting fires.Doing things that
disorders can be very costly to families, communities,can be life threatening.Killing animals.Comprehensive
and the health care system.In this fact sheet, "MentalServices through Systems of Care Can Help
Health Problems" for children and adolescents refersSome children diagnosed with severe mental health
to the range of all diagnosable emotional, behavioral,disorders may be eligible for comprehensive and
and mental disorders. They include depression,community-based services through systems of care.
attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety,Systems of care help children with serious emotional
conduct, and eating disorders. Mental health problemsdisturbances and their families cope with the
affect one in every five young people at any givenchallenges of difficult mental, emotional, or behavioral
time.problems. To learn more about systems of care, call
"Serious Emotional Disturbances" for children andthe National Mental Health Information Center at
adolescents refers to the above disorders when they1-800-789-2647, and request fact sheets on systems
severely disrupt daily functioning in home, school, orof care and serious emotional disturbances, or visit the
community. Serious emotional disturbances affect 1 inCenter's web site at the Right Services Is CriticalTo
every 10 young people at any given time.Mental Healthfind the right services for their children, families can do
Disorders Are More Common in Young People thanthe following:Get accurate information from hotlines,
Many Realize.Studies show that at least one in fivelibraries, or other sources.Seek referrals from
children and adolescents have a mental health disorder.professionals.Ask questions about treatments and
At least one in 10, or about 6 million people, have aservices.Talk to other families in their communities.Find
serious emotional disturbance.The Causes Arefamily network organizations.It is critical that people
ComplicatedMental health disorders in children andwho are not satisfied with the mental health care they
adolescents are caused mostly by biology andreceive discuss their concerns with providers, ask for
environment. Examples of biological causes areinformation, and seek help from other
genetics, chemical imbalances in the body, or damagesources.Important Messages About Child and
to the central nervous system, such as a head injury.Adolescent Mental Health:Every child's mental health is
Many environmental factors also put young people atimportant.
risk for developing mental health disorders. ExamplesMany children have mental health problems.
include:Exposure to environmental toxins, such as highThese problems are real, painful, and can be severe.
levels of lead;Mental health problems can be recognized and
Exposure to violence, such as witnessing or being thetreated.
victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-by shootings,Caring families and communities working together can
muggings, or other disasters; Stress related to chronichelp.
poverty, discrimination, or other serious hardships; andInformation is available; call 1-800-789-2647.This is one
The loss of important people through death, divorce,of many fact sheets on children's mental health
or broken relationships.Signs of Mental Health Disordersdisorders. All the fact sheets listed below are written in
Can Signal a Need for HelpChildren and adolescentsan easy-to-read style. Families, caretakers, and media
with mental health issues need to get help as soon asprofessionals may find them helpful when looking for
possible. A variety of signs may point to mental healthinformation about mental health disorders. For free
disorders or serious emotional disturbances in childrencopies, call 1-800-789-2647, or visit Much Love,Arthur
or adolescents. Pay attention if a child or adolescentBuchanan
you know has any of these warning signs:A child orPresident/CEO
adolescent is troubled by feeling:Sad and hopeless forOut of Darkness & Into the Light
no reason, and these feelings do not go away. Very43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
angry most of the time and crying a lot orHuron Ohio, 44839
overreacting to things.Worthless or guilty often.Anxious567-219-0994 (cell)
or worried often.Unable to get over a loss or death ofare calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of recovering
someone important.from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY! (MEDICAL
Extremely fearful or having unexplainedCOLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan has given
fears.Constantly concerned about physical problems orus a revolutionary blue print for recovery in these
physical appearance.Frightened that his or her minduncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all time high in
either is controlled or is out of control.A child orthe United States of America, yet if you follow this
adolescent experiences big changes, such as:Showingyoung mans methods, we assure you of positive
declining performance in school.Losing interest in thingsresults and I QUOTE 'If these methods are followed
once enjoyed.Experiencing unexplained changes inprecisely, their is no way you can't see positive results
sleeping or eating patterns.Avoiding friends or familywith whatever illness you have' -Dr. Herbert Palos
and wanting to be alone all the time.Daydreaming tooDetroit, Michigan
much and not completing tasks.Feeling life is too hardTHIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!