| Mental illness in children is on the rise for many | | | | receive treatment. ("American Journal of Psychiatry," |
| reasons: bullying at school, being in a hurricane, violence | | | | September 2002) |
| in the family and/or community, seeing a school | | | | * Untreated mental illness can lead to more severe |
| shooting, worries about terrorism, and a change in brain | | | | mental illness and this illness is more difficult to treat. |
| chemistry at maturation. An increasing number of | | | | (National Institute of Mental Health) |
| children are experiencing Posttraumatic Stress | | | | Young children can - and do - develop mental illness, |
| Disorder, or PTSD. Depression in children, including | | | | including depression. Their mental illness may show up |
| elementary age kids, is on the rise. If you search the | | | | as poor school performance, ongoing worry and |
| internet you will find many facts about mental illness in | | | | anxiety, refusing to go to school, hyperactivity and |
| children. These facts tell a story. | | | | fidgeting, awful nightmares, disobedience, verbal and |
| * 1 in 10 children have a mental illness that keeps them | | | | physical aggression, temper tantrums, and general |
| from functioning in their families, in their schools, and in | | | | irritability. Do you think your child has a mental illness? |
| their communities. (U.S. Department of Health and | | | | There are things you can do to help him or her. |
| Human Services) | | | | 1. Poor nutrition can change brain chemistry, so make |
| * An estimated 2.5% of American children suffer from | | | | sure your child eats a balanced diet. |
| depression. ( "Depression in Children") | | | | 2. Observe your child's behavior over time. You may |
| * Depression in children is often undiagnosed and | | | | wish to keep a diary of this behavior for at least a |
| untreated because it is confused with normal childhood | | | | month. |
| or teen behavior. ( "Depression in Children") | | | | 3. Talk with your child about the problem: bullying, |
| * Half of the lifetime causes of mental illness start by | | | | self-esteem, things she or he has seen, and personal |
| age 14. (National Institute of Mental Health study) | | | | feelings. |
| * Approximately 4.1% of school-age kids have | | | | 4. Encourage your child to confide in you. Listen to your |
| attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. (National Institute | | | | child's word choices and for descriptions of feelings. |
| of Mental Health) | | | | Observe your child's body language as you listen. |
| * Anxiety disorders often start in late childhood. | | | | 5. Praise your child's talents and strengths. Don't |
| (National Alliance for Mental Illness) | | | | overdo it, though, or your your child won't believe you. |
| * An estimated 13% of kids between the ages of 9 | | | | 6. Seek professional help if you think it is needed. |
| and 17 have an anxiety disorder. (U.S. Surgeon | | | | Mental illness is treatable and the treatments are |
| General) | | | | getting better all the time. For the sake of your family, |
| * Emergency departments in U.S. hospitals often | | | | your child, and your child's future, get help for his or her |
| under-diagnose mental illness in children who are being | | | | mental illness as soon as possible. While you are doing |
| treated for self-harm. ("Archives of General | | | | this, remember to take care of yourself, for the mental |
| Psychiatry," October 2006) | | | | illness of one affects all in the family. |
| * Only about 21% of children who have mental illness | | | | |