Expanding Awareness of Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence

1. Expanding Awareness of Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence Yasong Du Shanghai Mental Health Center Shanghai Jiaotong University

2. Awareness Awareness of children’s mental health in families, communities, medical professionals, and larger organizations will allow for: • early identification of problems, which can facilitate early treatment • wider social understanding • reduced stigma • recognition of the importance of future initiatives aimed at mental health promotion in children.

3. Reasons for an Awareness Child and adolescent mental health: • is a basic human right that needs to be protected for children to thrive • is a general health issue • facilitates greater productivity and economic stability

4. Goals of the Awareness • inform public about the nature and treatment of children’s mental health • facilitate early detection and treatment • reduce stigma that causes emotional and social distress or prevents an individual from seeking treatment • provide health and educational personel with relevant information • begin a dialogue between different groups so people begin to work together to promote children’s mental health • promote change in mental health treatment and policy

5. The Severity of Children’s Mental Health Problems • Prevalence and severity of mental health in children is alarmingly high. • Untreated mental health in children have serious complications • The following data shows the high prevalence and severity

6. Prevalence and Severity of Children’s Mental Health Problems Studies have shown that: • Over 20% of children aged 9 to 17 have a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder that causes at least some impairment • Up to 2.5% of children and 8.3% of adolescents suffer from depression at any given time. (Birmaher 1996) • Depression is occurring earlier in life than in previous decades, often recurs in adult­hood, and may predict more severe disorders later in life. (Klerman 1989; Weissman 1999) • In any six month period, it is estimated that 13% of children and adolescents may suffer from an anxiety disorder. • In 2003, suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death in 10-14 year olds. Among adolescents with major depressive disorder, up to 7% might commit suicide in the young adult years. (Weissman 1999)

7. Understanding of social problems on children’s mental health • Worldwide social political and health crises impact mental and psychic health of children • These problems can lead to PTSD, reactive emotional or behavioral disorders. • In many rapidly developing countries widespread social changes and family systems breakdown can have tremendous impact on children mental health.

8. The impact of Stigma Stigma comes from public, medical professions, families and the person himself. Effects from Stigma range from: • feelings of fear and inadequacy • denial • isolation despair Stigma can lead to maltreatment and abuse Usually this cause the mentally ill to fail to seek help.

9. Issues to be covered • Depression • ADHD • School avoidance • Conduct disorders • PTSD • Early detection of pre-psychotic signs in adolescence

10. Conclusion Awareness is the first fundamental step towards improving child mental health care and promotion.