All children feel sad, anxious, irritable at times, and many sometimes find it difficult to sit still, pay attention, or interact with others. In most cases, this is just a common phase of development. However, such behavior can also indicate more serious problems in some children.
Children who are mentally healthy have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, at school, and in their communities. Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching emotional developmental milestones as well as learning healthy social skills and ways to cope with problems.
Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children normally learn, behave, or handle their emotions, leading to distress and problems getting through the day. Many children sometimes experience fear and worry or display disruptive behavior. If the symptoms are serious, persistent and interfere with school, home or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with a mental disorder.
Mental health is not simply the absence of mental disorders. Children who do not have a mental disorder may differ in how well they do, and children who have the same mental disorder may differ in their strengths and weaknesses in the way they develop and cope, and in their quality of life. Mental health as a continuum and identifying specific mental disorders is a way to understand how well children are doing.
Mental health is important for overall health. Mental disorders are chronic health conditions, long-lasting conditions that often do not go away completely, that can continue throughout life. Without early diagnosis and treatment, children with mental disorders can experience social problems at home, at school, and in making friends. Mental disorders can also interfere with a child’s healthy development, causing problems that can continue into adulthood.
Most Common Mental Health Conditions in Children.
There are several types of mental disorders that can affect children and teens, including:
Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or situations with fear and dread, as well as physical signs of anxiety (nervousness), such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Children with ADHD generally have problems paying attention or concentrating, can’t appear to follow directions, and are easily bored and/or frustrated with tasks. They also tend to move continuously and are impulsive (do not think before they act).
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Previously called pervasive developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders include social, communication, and behavioral challenges. Children with these problems are often confused in their thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them. Cases can be mild, serious, or somewhere in between. A diagnosis is based on the level of support needed — so getting an early diagnosis means treatment can start sooner.
Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as unusual behaviors related to weight and/or food.
Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school.
Learning and communication disorders: Children with these disorders have problems storing and processing information, as well as regarding their thoughts and ideas.
Elimination disorders: Disorders that affect behavior associated with using the bathroom. Enuresis, or bed-wetting, is the most common of elimination disorders.
Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness and/or quickly changing moods, and include depression and bipolar disorder. A more recent diagnosis is called disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, a childhood and adolescent condition involving chronic or persistent irritability and frequent outbursts of anger.
Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden, involuntary (not done on purpose), and frequently meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Schizophrenia: This disorder involves distorted perceptions and thoughts.
Some of these disorders, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia, can occur in both adults and children. Other disorders appear only in childhood, although they can continue into adulthood. Sometimes a child can have more than one disorder.
