5 Things You Need to Know About Childhood Mental Illness

1. The Causes of Childhood Mental Illness

Childhood mental illness is the result of multiple contributing factors. Physical, social and environmental, and psychological causes are all factors influencing a child's mental well being. There could be two or more factors working together to contribute to a child's mental illness.

Physical factors are those existing in our biological nature. For example, genes that have been passed on to us from our parents or our families genetic make up. Physical factors can also include prenatal influences. Sickness or substance abuse by the mother are also factors which would also affect the child.

Social and environmental influences can include where the child lives, the family unit he is a part of, the daily interaction he participates and is included in and his school and peer environment.

Psychological factors would be any life event the child is facing. For example, a parent's divorce, death of a parent, sibling or other relative and abuse, either physical, emotional or sexual. Another psychological contributing factor to childhood mental illness is the child's self talk. Does he berate himself? Have a negative outlook? Resist help from adults?

2. How a Child Is Diagnosed

As a parent or caregiver, some questions to consider if you're wondering whether your child has a mental illness: Does my child function well as part of our family unit? Does he function successfully as part of his school unit? Peer unit?

Diagnosing your child with a mental illness is a collaborative effort between you, your child's school staff, your child's doctor and a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Information will be gathered over a period of time from these different contributors. A full medical history should be assessed. Many medical conditions can be misinterpreted as mental illness. Diagnosing a mental illness is based on several criteria and can be a rather lengthy process. Your contribution to the overall analysis of your child is crucial. Explaining cultural, religious, family and individual histories will influence the assessment.

3. What to Look For

Each mental illness has its own symptoms indicative of that disorder. Some general guidelines can include: decrease in school performance, lack of interest in previously engaging activities or peer group, withdrawal, appetite changes, difficulty in remembering things or concentrating, being irritable or snappy or behavioral changes. Although, some parents may point out that this describes just about any teen as they attempt to navigate adolescence! Children who are suffering from a mental illness cease to function appropriately or successfully in their daily life. Other symptoms may include bed wetting, sleep disruption or inability to sleep, outbursts of violent anger or repetitive use of words or an action such as banging of the head.

4. The Math on Childhood Mental Illness

One in ten children between the ages of 6 and 12 experience persistent feelings of sadness. Although depression occurs less frequently in younger children than it does in adults, during adolescence depression among adolescents rises significantly higher than depression among adults.

11.2% of children experience attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While some children outgrow ADHD, 60% continue to have symptoms in adulthood. Although usually diagnosed around age 7 and older, children with ADHD exhibited symptoms as early as age 3 or 4.

One out of 150 births produces an autistic child. Autism affects 1 to 1.5 million Americans. It is the fastest growing developmental disability.

One in 10 children have some type of learning disability. While learning disabilities are not mental illness, some of the signs and symptoms of them often mimic mental illness.

5. How to Treat Childhood Mental Illness

Childhood mental illness is best treated with early intervention. Treatment can include medication and/or therapy. Therapy can be in the form of play for younger children or talk therapy for pre-teens and adolescents. Treatment is an ongoing process with close monitoring of medication and its effect. Treatment that is therapy based is generally goal oriented with both parents and clinician discussing agreed upon goals and how they will be reached.