According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top 5 mental illnesses for kids aged three to seventeen years include:
-- Autism and Autism spectrum disorder: 1.1 percent
-- Depression: 2.1 percent
-- Anxiety: 3 percent
-- Personality or behavioral disorder: 3.5 percent
-- ADHD: 6.8 percent
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that suicide is the 2nd-leading cause of death in adolescents.
5 Signs That Your Kid Is Suffering from a Mental Illness:
– They get irritated and stressed out easily
Like adults, kids get irritated and stressed out. In many cases, child aggravation is caused by peer or school pressure; but, noticeably intensified aggravation can also stem from an underlying mental illness.
Kids with a mental disorder usually make excuses to not study or go to school. They may experience stomach aches, headaches, or other type of pain. Kids that appear withdrawn and aggravated may be bullied or experience any other problem with their peers. Bullying is actually a severe threat to a kid’s mental health.
– They are increasingly anxious
Childhood should be a carefree time in someone’s life; so when a young kid starts displaying anxious behaviors, it’s a cause for concern.
For instance, if your kid worries that they’d not make the bus on time each morning, it’s definitely a cause for concern. Also, if they worry that they’d not get their favorite spot at the lunch table each afternoon, you should not ignore it.
– They are withdrawn or depressed
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 teenagers experiences a bout with depression; eight percent have a major depressive disorder.
A Prof. of psychiatry at the University of Arizona, Doctor Charles Raison, explains that parents need to intervene if their kid displays withdrawn or depressive behavior for longer than 2-3 weeks. A kid that has depression may also experience great changes in sleeping patterns.
– They abuse drugs or alcohol
Research suggests that there’s a correlation between substance abuse and mental health disorders. Researchers note that about 20% of high school children have an ongoing prescription drug addiction, 40% have used tobacco or smoked, and 70% have tried alcohol.