The
Causes Are Complicated
Mental health disorders in
children and adolescents are caused mostly by biology
and environment. Examples of biological causes are genetics,
chemical imbalances in the body, or damage to the central
nervous system, such as a head injury. Many environmental
factors also put young people at risk for developing
mental health disorders. Examples include:
- Exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels
of lead;
- Exposure to violence, such as witnessing or being
the victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-by shootings,
muggings, or other disasters;
- Stress related to chronic poverty, discrimination,
or other serious hardships; and
- The loss of important people through death, divorce,
or broken relationships.
- gns of Mental Health Disorders Can Signal a Need
for Help
- Children and adolescents with mental health issues
need to get help as soon as possible. A variety of
signs may point to mental health disorders or serious
emotional disturbances in children or adolescents.
Pay attention if a child or adolescent you know has
any of these warning signs:
A child or adolescent is troubled
by feeling:
- Sad and hopeless for no reason,
and these feelings do not go away.
- Very angry most of the time
and crying a lot or overreacting to things.
- Worthless or guilty often.
- Anxious or worried often.
- Unable to get over a loss
or death of someone important.
- Extremely fearful or having
unexplained fears.
- Constantly concerned about
physical problems or physical appearance.
- Frightened that his or her
mind either is controlled or is out of control.
A child or adolescent experiences
big changes, such as:
- Showing declining performance
in school.
- Losing interest in things
once enjoyed.
- Experiencing unexplained
changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
- Avoiding friends or family
and wanting to be alone all the time.
- Daydreaming too much and
not completing tasks.
- Feeling life is too hard
to handle.
- Hearing voices that cannot
be explained.
- Experiencing suicidal thoughts.
A child or adolescent experiences:
- Poor concentration and is unable to think straight
or make up his or her mind.
- An inability to sit still or focus attention.
- Worry about being harmed, hurting others, or doing
something "bad".
- A need to wash, clean things, or perform certain
routines hundreds of times a day, in order to avoid
an unsubstantiated danger.
- Racing thoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
- Persistent nightmares.
A child or adolescent behaves in ways
that cause problems, such as:
- Using alcohol or other drugs.
- Eating large amounts of food
and then purging, or abusing laxatives, to avoid weight
gain.
- Dieting and/or exercising
obsessively.
- Violating the rights of others
or constantly breaking the law without regard for
other people.
- Setting fires.
- Doing things that can be
life threatening.
- Killing animals.
Comprehensive
Services through Systems of Care Can Help
Some children diagnosed with severe
mental health disorders may be eligible for comprehensive
and community-based services through systems of care.
Systems of care help children with serious emotional
disturbances and their families cope with the challenges
of difficult mental, emotional, or behavioral problems.
To learn more about systems of care, call the National
Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647,
and request fact sheets on systems of care and serious
emotional disturbances, or visit the Center's web site
at www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov |
