Learning About Children’s Mental Health
Many people who deal with mental health problems or their families and friends who help them know that these are complex conditions. These conditions can be overwhelming for adults with multiple skills and strategies to cope with and are much harder to diagnose in children. A professional neuropsychological assessment is helpful to determine the state of a child’s mental health. To clearly understand children and mental health, you need to understand how these conditions manifest and impact their growth.
So, here is some information on mental health in children, some common childhood disorders, and common treatments for childhood mental disorders.
What is Mental Health in Children?
It is normal for children to experience worry and fear or display some disruptive behavior as they grow up. However, with mental disorders, these become symptoms as they become much more severe. They begin to interfere with their social and academic lives. From this, mental health is not the absence of a disorder; rather, it is a continuum of how a child progresses, given their unique strengths and weaknesses.
What Are Some Common Childhood Disorders?
Many mental disorders can affect children, but some are more common than others. They include behavior disorders, anxiety or irrational fear or worry, and attention disorders (ADD/ADHD). Some others are less popular but still as impactful on a child’s development and quality of their life. These include:
- Learning disabilities
- Developmental disabilities
- Autism
- Risk factors of substance abuse
- Risk factors of self-harm.
These conditions impact a child’s behavior, ability to handle simple emotions, and learning capabilities.
Which Children Are Commonly Affected by Mental Disorders?
Many mental disorders are evenly distributed among children regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds. The Institute of Medicine found that every year, one in five children in America deals with a mental problem or disorder. While some conditions like autism are more likely to affect boys, mental conditions can affect both boys and girls. The surveys estimate that mental disorders cost families in the US at least $247 billion every year as of 2007.
Symptoms of Mental Disorders in Children
The symptoms of mental disorders in children will vary depending on their developmental stage. Some children present symptoms of mental disorders in their early life while others manifest in their teens. Some common symptoms are difficulty handling emotions, acting in social situations, speaking, and learning. Some children may have a disorder and show no signs at all, and may not even be diagnosed with one.
Treatment Options
You can find multiple options for treatment for a child’s mental issues, and most of them will involve all the people in a child’s life. The key people in a child’s life are key in helping the child to overcome and deal with the condition. The treatment option will depend on the comprehensive initial evaluation that reveals the main issue affecting a child.
If you want to learn more about children’s mental health, you can make your way to our Wonder Years Psychiatric Services offices in Brooklyn or Garden City, New York. You can call (347) 987-4233 or (516) 588 1700 to book an appointment today.
