Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Mental Health Is ImportantHearing voices that cannot be explained.
Mental health is how people think, feel, and act asExperiencing suicidal thoughts.
they face life's situations. It affects how peopleA child or adolescent experiences:
handle stress, relate to one another, and makePoor concentration and is unable to think straight or
decisions. Mental health influences the ways individualsmake up his or her mind.
look at themselves, their lives, and others in theirAn inability to sit still or focus attention. Worry about
lives. Like physical health, mental health is important atbeing harmed, hurting others, or doing something
every stage of life."bad".
All aspects of our lives are affected by our mentalA need to wash, clean things, or perform certain
health. Caring for and protecting our children is anroutines hundreds of times a day, in order to avoid
obligation and is critical to their daily lives and theiran unsubstantiated danger.
independence.Racing thoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
Children and Adolescents Can Have Serious MentalPersistent nightmares.
Health Problems Like adults, children and adolescentsA child or adolescent behaves in ways that cause
can have mental health disorders that interfere withproblems, such as:
the way they think, feel, and act. When untreated,Using alcohol or other drugs.
mental health disorders can lead to school failure,Eating large amounts of food and then purging, or
family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and evenabusing laxatives, to avoid weight gain.
suicide. Untreated mental health disorders can beDieting and/or exercising obsessively.
very costly to families, communities, and the healthViolating the rights of others or constantly breaking
care system.the law without regard for other people.
In this fact sheet, "Mental Health Problems" forSetting fires.
children and adolescents refers to the range of allDoing things that can be life threatening.
diagnosable emotional, behavioral, and mentalKilling animals.
disorders. They include depression, attention- deficitComprehensive Services through Systems of Care
hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety, conduct, andCan Help Some children diagnosed with severe mental
eating disorders. Mental health problems affect one inhealth disorders may be eligible for comprehensive
every five young people at any given time. "Seriousand community-based services through systems of
Emotional Disturbances" for children and adolescentscare. Systems of care help children with serious
refers to the above disorders when they severelyemotional disturbances and their families cope with
disrupt daily functioning in home, school, orthe challenges of difficult mental, emotional, or
community. Serious emotional disturbances affect 1 inbehavioral problems. To learn more about systems of
every 10 young people at any given time.care, call the National Mental Health Information
Mental Health Disorders Are More Common in YoungCenter at 1-800-789-2647, and request fact sheets
People than Many Realize.on systems of care and serious emotional
Studies show that at least one in five children anddisturbances, or visit the Center's web site at
adolescents have a mental health disorder. At leastFinding the Right Services Is Critical
one in 10, or about 6 million people, have a seriousTo find the right services for their children, families
emotional disturbance.can do the following:
The Causes Are ComplicatedGet accurate information from hotlines, libraries, or
Mental health disorders in children and adolescents areother sources.
caused mostly by biology and environment. ExamplesSeek referrals from professionals.
of biological causes are genetics, chemical imbalancesAsk questions about treatments and services.
in the body, or damage to the central nervousTalk to other families in their communities.
system, such as a head injury. Many environmentalFind family network organizations.
factors also put young people at risk for developingIt is critical that people who are not satisfied with the
mental health disorders. Examples include:mental health care they receive discuss their
Exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levelsconcerns with providers, ask for information, and
of lead; Exposure to violence, such as witnessing orseek help from other sources.
being the victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-byImportant Messages About Child and Adolescent
shootings, muggings, or other disasters; StressMental Health:
related to chronic poverty, discrimination, or otherEvery child's mental health is important.
serious hardships; and The loss of important peopleMany children have mental health problems.
through death, divorce, or broken relationships.These problems are real, painful, and can be severe.
Signs of Mental Health Disorders Can Signal a NeedMental health problems can be recognized and
for Helptreated.
Children and adolescents with mental health issuesCaring families and communities working together can
need to get help as soon as possible. A variety ofhelp.
signs may point to mental health disorders or seriousInformation is available; call 1-800-789-2647.
emotional disturbances in children or adolescents. PayThis is one of many fact sheets on children's mental
attention if a child or adolescent you know has anyhealth disorders. All the fact sheets listed below are
of these warning signs:written in an easy-to-read style. Families, caretakers,
A child or adolescent is troubled by feeling:and media professionals may find them helpful when
Sad and hopeless for no reason, and these feelingslooking for information about mental health disorders.
do not go away. Very angry most of the time andFor free copies, call 1-800-789-2647, or visit
crying a lot or overreacting to things.With Much Love,
Worthless or guilty often.Arthur Buchanan
Anxious or worried often.President/CEO
Unable to get over a loss or death of someoneOut of Darkness & Into the Light
important. Extremely fearful or having unexplained43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
fears.Huron Ohio, 44839
Constantly concerned about physical problems or567-219-0994 (cell)
physical appearance.They are calling Arthur Buchanan's methods of
Frightened that his or her mind either is controlled orrecovering from mental illness REVOLUTIONARY!
is out of control.(MEDICAL COLLEGE OF MICHIGAN) 'Arthur Buchanan
A child or adolescent experiences big changes, suchhas given us a revolutionary blue print for recovery in
as:these uncertain times, when Mental Illness at a all
Showing declining performance in school.time high in the United States of America, yet if you
Losing interest in things once enjoyed.follow this young mans methods, we assure you of
Experiencing unexplained changes in sleeping or eatingpositive results and I QUOTE 'If these methods are
patterns.followed precisely, their is no way you can't see
Avoiding friends or family and wanting to be alone allpositive results with whatever illness you have' -Dr.
the time.Herbert Palos Detroit, Michigan
Daydreaming too much and not completing tasks.THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!
Feeling life is too hard to handle.