Mental Health in Children and Adolescents
Students today are coming to school with greater needs than ever. The mental health of students is a concern for parents and teachers everywhere. Some mental health statistics :
Suicide:
Depression:
Childhood depression has become more prevalent in recent years. It can greatly impact the child's emotional growth and performance in school. They symptoms of childhood depression vary from child to child. Some signs and symptoms include:
What can we do:
The good news is that children with mental health disorders, with proper intervention, can lead happy and productive lives. Teachers, school counselors and parents need to work together to ensure that students are identified and receive appropriate interventions for their mental health concerns. If you feel your student is struggling with depression or any other mental health concern, please notify me immediately so that I may lend support to the student at school, and to you as a family.
The above information was taken from the article Students with Depression Help Them Find Their Way Out, ASCA School Counselor Vol. 52 No. 1, September/October 2014.
- Four million children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental disorder that causes significant functional impairments at home, school, and with peers.
- Of children ages 9-17, 21% have a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder that causes at least minimal impairment.
- Half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders begin by age 14.
- In any given year, only 20% of children with mental disorders are identified and receive mental health services.
Suicide:
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth ages 15-24.
- More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined.
- More than 90% of children and adolescents who commit suicide have a mental disorder.
- Approximately 50% of students age 14 and older who are living with a mental illness drop out of high school. This is the highest drop out rate of any disability.
- Youth and unidentified and untreated mental disorders often end up in jails and prisons. Sixty-five percent of boys and 75% of girls in juvenile detention have at least one mental illness.
Depression:
Childhood depression has become more prevalent in recent years. It can greatly impact the child's emotional growth and performance in school. They symptoms of childhood depression vary from child to child. Some signs and symptoms include:
- Irritability or anger
- Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Social withdrawal
- Increased sensitivity to rejection
- Changes in appetite and sleep, either increased or decreased
- Vocal outbursts or crying
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue and low energy
- Physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches) that don't respond to treatment
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Thoughts of death or suicide
What can we do:
The good news is that children with mental health disorders, with proper intervention, can lead happy and productive lives. Teachers, school counselors and parents need to work together to ensure that students are identified and receive appropriate interventions for their mental health concerns. If you feel your student is struggling with depression or any other mental health concern, please notify me immediately so that I may lend support to the student at school, and to you as a family.
The above information was taken from the article Students with Depression Help Them Find Their Way Out, ASCA School Counselor Vol. 52 No. 1, September/October 2014.