Child and Adolescent Mental Health

10% of children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from serious emotional and
mental disorders that cause significant functional impairment. In any given year,
only 20% are identified and receive mental health services (National Institute of
Mental Health, 2005).

Untreated, approximately 50% of students 14 and older with mental illnesses drop
out of high school—the highest dropout rate of any disability group (U.S.
Department of Education, 2001).

70% of youth involved in the juvenile justice system suffer from mental disorders,
with at least 20% experiencing severe symptoms that significantly impair their
ability to function (National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, 2006).

Anywhere from 5%-10% of children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from
depression at any given point in time. Children under stress, who experience loss,
who have a family history of depression, or who have attention or learning disorders
are at a higher risk for depression (National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia
and Depression, 2005).

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth aged 10 to 24. More youth and
young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects,
stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined (National Strategy
for Suicide Prevention, 2001).

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health disorder in children.
It usually affects children between the ages of 6 and 11. Some of the more common
anxiety disorders children and teens experience are: obsessive-compulsive disorder,
panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and
phobias (National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, 2005).

At least 2 million people in the U.S. are self-injurers and approximately 1% have
self-injured at some point in their lives. Self-injury is defined as a deliberate,
intentional injury to one’s body that causes tissue damage or leaves marks for more
than a few minutes, which is done to cope with an overwhelming or distressing
situation (Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., 2008).

Children diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to repeat a grade, receive special
education services, have lower grade point averages, experience more suspensions
and expulsions, and complete fewer years of school than children without ADHD
(NIMH, 2008).

Bipolar disorder can result in damaged relationships, poor school performance, and
suicide. At least half of all cases start before age 25, and affects at least 750,000
children in the U.S. (NIMH, 2006).

Youth who are going to develop psychosis can be identified before their illness
becomes full-blown up to 65%-80% of the time if they have certain combination of
risk factors, according to the largest study of its kind. Factors include: deteriorating
social functioning, family history of psychosis combined with recent decline in
functioning ability, increase in unusual thoughts and paranoia, and past or current
drug abuse (NIMH, 2008).

Autism spectrum disorders can cause significant social, communication, and

behavioral challenges. An average of 1 in 110 U.S. children have an ASD (Center for
Disease Control, 2009).