Child
and Adolescent Mental Health
Mental Health Is Important
Mental health is how people think,
feel, and act as they face life's situations. It affects
how people handle stress, relate to one another, and make
decisions. Mental health influences the ways individuals
look at themselves, their lives, and others in their lives.
Like physical health, mental health is important at every
stage of life.
All aspects of our lives are affected
by our mental health. Caring for and protecting our
children is an obligation and is critical to their daily
lives and their independence.
Children and Adolescents Can Have
Serious Mental Health Problems
Like adults, children and adolescents can have mental
health disorders that interfere with the way they think,
feel, and act. When untreated, mental health disorders
can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse,
violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental health
disorders can be very costly to families, communities,
and the health care system.
In this fact sheet, "Mental
Health Problems" for children and adolescents refers
to the range of all diagnosable emotional, behavioral,
and mental disorders. They include depression, attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety, conduct,
and eating disorders. Mental health problems affect
one in every five young people at any given time.
"Serious Emotional Disturbances" for children
and adolescents refers to the above disorders when they
severely disrupt daily functioning in home, school,
or community. Serious emotional disturbances affect
1 in every 10 young people at any given time.1
Mental Health Disorders Are More Common in Young People
than Many Realize
Studies show that at least
one in five children and adolescents have a mental health
disorder. At least one in 10, or about 6 million people,
have a serious emotional disturbance.
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