Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all

— Bill clinton

It is estimated that about 15 million children in the United States of America can be diagnosed with a mental health illness. There are many possible causal factors for mental disorders in children including genetics, environment, or adverse childhood experiences. The are many challenges that come along with mental illness such as stigma, rejection, misunderstanding, and even the experience of having a mental illness (Ahmann, 2013). In this post I’ll be providing some general information about child development and mental disorders in children ages 2-12 years old.

Children can be diagnosed with a variety of mental disorders including anxiety, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and mood disorders. These disorders and illnesses can affect children’s developmental milestones and later health outcomes. Some health behaviors that these children display may play a part in the progression of these mental disorders later on in life. Low physical activity, trouble sleeping, and poor eating behaviors can worsen health and well-being. Parents also play a role in mediating these health habits (Bowling et al., 2019).

Other factors such as no medical insurance, living in a poor neighborhood, or lacking knowledge and resources in general can affect the health of children with mental illnesses. Early intervention is associated with better well-being in adulthood. Communities can help by creating more services to support the families and children to help identify and treat earlier. Reducing stress can improve physical functioning in the body of both the children and the family (Bitsko et al, 2016).

Below are some tips that families and communities can use to enhance health in children with mental illnesses and disorders:

• Learn about the different pubic assistance programs that can provide services
• Therapy is useful for both the family and the child
• Assessing risk factors early for better health outcomes later
• Online resources can provide useful information
• Look at all treatment options to see which will be the most effective
• Make sure the caregivers understand the mental illness
• Reduce stress by learning about mental illness
• Talk to other people for support