Mental health disorders in young people?
“Some studies have estimated that about 18 percent of
the U.S. population ages 18-54 are affected by a
mental disorder during a given year and about 50
percent of the population will have a diagnosis of or
a diagnosable disorder in their lifetime. First onset of
these disorders are usually childhood or adolescence.
(Kessler, 2005).
The prevalence of mental disorders in children and
youth (to the point at which their life is significantly
impacted) is also estimated to be approximately
20 percent during a given year”.
A number of youth and young adults experience
a mental health challenge or disorder that
interferes with their development and daily
life activities. Some of these mental health
challenges are mild and may only last for a
short period, and others may last a lifetime.
Identifying mental disorders in children, youth,
and young adults takes into account their
physical, mental, and emotional changes as the
young person learns how to cope, adapt, and
relate to others and to the world around them.
Facts About mental health disorders in Children
• In 2014, 11.4 percent of adolescents aged 12
to 17 (2.8 million adolescents) had a major
depressive episode during the past year.
• Anxiety disorders are among the most
common mental health challenges that
occur in children and adolescents.
Anxiety in Young People
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
was diagnosed an estimated 11
of school-aged children.
Young girls are more than two and a half
times as likely to have an eating disorder.
Unfortunately, many young people with mental
disorders do not seek or access any professional
help. For example, in 2014 less than half
(approximately 41.2 percent) of adolescents
who experienced a past-year major depressive
episode received treatment for depression in
the past year. This rate also varies according
to the individual's gender, geographic region,
past traumatic experiences, health insurance
coverage, and overall health." There are many
reasons that young people may not access
treatment; they may not know they have a
mental health problem, youth may feel they
will be stigmatized by their peers or family,
or they or their family may not know how and
where to seek mental or behavioral health care.
Impact of Health Challenges with Mental Disorders
Although mental health challenges and mental
disorders can begin in early childhood,
mental disorders often manifest themselves
in adolescence or early adulthood. In the
United States, approximately 50 percent of
the population will meet criteria for a mental
disorder at some point in their life, many with
their first onset during childhood or adolescence.
Further there is often a long delay between when
symptoms first occur and when people seek
treatment. When mental illnesses start at this
stage of life, they can affect the young person's
education, ability to work and form relationships
(including marriage), and they can lead to the
use of alcohol and other drugs. These disorders
are not always well understood by people
who have never experienced a mental health
challenge or disorder themselves or lived with a
person experiencing a mental health disorder.
This is why it is so important to detect problems
early and to ensure the person is properly treated
and supported. Early identification and treatment
of a mental health challenge or disorder can also
prevent loss of productivity, high medical costs,
and the associated burdens on family members
and caregivers.
Mental health challenges and disorders are the leading
cause of disability in the United States and Canada.
They account for 25 percent of years of life lost due
to disability or early death.36, 37 Disability refers to the
amount of disruption a health problem causes to a
person's ability to study, work, look after themselves,
and carryon relationships with family and friends.
However, because the disability caused by mental
health challenges and disorders may not be readily
visible to others, people with mental health challenges
or disorders can be judged negatively. They may be
incorrectly perceived as being attention seeking or not
really ill. Others may judge them to be lazy, selfish, or
uncooperative, which may be symptoms of the mental
disorder. This lack of understanding contributes to the
stigma that young people with mental health challenges
or disorders can experience. To lessen this stigma, the
community's attitude toward mental illness should be
fundamentally the same as their approach to physical
illness." Young people with mental health challenges
also need others to respect and acknowledge their
strengths and attributes as well as contributions they
make to family, friends, and their community,
professionals, peer supports and mentors, and informal
supports can provide help to a young person with a
mental health challenge or disorder.
In the United States, individuals providing mental
health services and supports have different names
and titles, and the services these professionals can
provide may vary from state to state. Below is a brief
description of some of the more common formal
mental health providers for young people. Among
the varied professions listed, it is important to seek
individual professionals who have specific expertise
in youth and families.
• Medical doctors, pediatricians, and neurologists
(and other specialists) look for possible physical
causes of the mental or behavioral health
challenge and can prescribe medication if needed.
• Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize
in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of
mental disorders.
• Psychologists may provide psychological
evaluation, assessment, testing, and treatment
but may not prescribe medications.
For treatment click the Treatment link above.