The Facts
- Mental health problems affect one in five young people.
- One in 10 young people age 9 or older has a serious emotional disturbance that severely disrupts their daily life.
- An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need.
- Untreated mental health conditions can lead to school failure, drug abuse, family conflicts, violence, and even suicide, the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14- year olds.
- Mental health disorders in children and adolescents are caused mostly by biology and environment.
- Studies show that two of every 100 children may have major depression, and as many as eight of every 100 adolescents may be affected (NationalInstitutes of Health, 1999).
- Research shows that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14.
Adults with bipolar disorder (about 1 in 100) often experienced their first symptoms during their teenage years (National Institutes of Health, 1999). Persons with bipolar disorder demonstrate exaggerated mood swings that range from extreme highs (excitedness) to extreme lows (depression).
- According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1999), up to five of every 100 children are affected by attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Young people with attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder are unable to focus their attention and are easily distracted.
- Anorexia affects one to three of every 100 young people (National Institutes of Health, 1999)