In a world where most adults have trouble coping, it is very important to observe our children and watch for any signs that they are maybe having trouble coping. Children, just like adults, can have mental health disorders. According to studies, as many as one in five children have a mental health disorder and one in ten have a serious mental health problem.

There are generally three categories of mental disorders, emotional, behavioral and other.

Emotional disorders are also known as anxiety and mood disorders. This category includes, but not limited to disorders such as: depression, bipolar disorder, separation anxiety, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). Health experts have suggested that left untreated this category of disorder could result in suicide.

Behavior disorders are also referred to as disruptive disorders. This category includes, but is not limited to disorders such as: ADD (attention deficit Disorder)/ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), conduct disorder, aggressive and/or defiant behavior, disruptive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Left untreated this category of disorders could lead to dropping out of school and involvement in criminal behavior.

Other disorders include, but not limited to: eating disorders and schizophrenia. These disorders should not be left untreated as death could result.

There are believed to be two major caused of children's metal health disorders, biology and environmental:

Biological causes included but are not limited to, genetics, damage to the central nervous system or chemical imbalances.

Environmental causes include but are not limited to, stress, exposure to violence, stress, losses through death or divorce or environmental toxins.

Because children typically have trouble describing their thoughts and feelings it is up to the adults around them to be aware of and troubling symptoms that included but are not limited to:

–A child is troubled by feelings like: sadness and hopelessness for no apparent reason, extremely angry most of the time, crying a lot, overreaction to minor issues, feelings of worthlessness or guilty, anxious or worried, unable to get over the loss or death of someone important, extremely fearful or having unexplained fear, obsessing about physical appearances, worried that his/her mind is being controlled or is out of control.

–A child experiences life changing circumstances resulting in: school performance declines, no longer interested in things they once loved, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, avoiding friends and family and wanting to be alone, daydreaming to much, feeling like life is too difficult to handle, hearing voices, having suicidal thoughts.

–A child experiences: poor concentration and is unable to make up his/her mind, unable to sit still, worried about being harmed, a need to wash or clean things repeatedly or perform certain routines over and over.


–A child's behavior cause problems such as: the abuse of alcohol or other drugs, eating and purging, laxative abuse, obsessively dieting or exercising, a blatant disregard for others or other people's property, setting fires, abusing animals.

There are a variety of treatment options for mental health disorders in children. They include individual, group and family therapy, medication and play therapy. Treatments are most beneficial when they are home, school and community based.

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