Children and Mental Health

HealthWatch for May 2008
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May is Mental Health Month, and May 4 – 10 is designated as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

The identification of mental health disorders in children can be difficult, since children naturally experience mental and emotional changes throughout normal growth and development, and each child matures at his or her own pace.  Possible indications of mental illness in children can include:

In older children and pre-teens

• Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
• Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
• Excessive complaints of physical problems
• Defying authority, skipping school, stealing, or damaging property
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Long-lasting negative mood, often along with poor appetite and thoughts of death
• Frequent outbursts of anger

In younger children

• Changes in school performance
• Poor grades despite strong efforts
• Excessive worrying or anxiety
• Hyperactivity
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
• Frequent temper tantrums

Experts are still determining which treatments work best for children.  Treatment options for children can include medication, psychotherapy and creative therapy, such as art or play therapy.

Source: The Cleveland Clinic

For more information on depression, watch “Depression: Out of the Shadows” on Wednesday, May 21st at 9:00 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS.

Local Resources

The Cleveland Clinic:
An Overview of Mental Illness
Common Mental Disorders in Children: An Overview

Cuyahoga County Mental Health Board
Lorain County Board of Mental Health
Red Flags in Children’s Behavior – Mental Health America of Summit County

State Resources

Ohio Department of Mental Health