Childhood Mental Illness

Depending on what criteria for severity are used in diagnosing children with mental illness, anywhere from 6 to 12 percent of children have mental illness with half of all cases beginning before the age of 14. Many adults with severe mental illness report onset of symptoms of their illness between ages 5 and 9.

Childhood and adolescent mental illnesses include:
Anxiety Disorder
Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism
Bipolar Disorder
Clinical Depression
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Schizophrenia
Early treatment of the major psychiatric disorders can lessen the severity of recurrence over a lifetime.
Pediatricians miss 83% of children with psychiatric diagnoses.
3 million children have a mental illness diagnosis in a one year period.
1.4 million of these children receive care in mental health organizations.
Pervasive Developmental Disorders, including Autism affect 1 to 1.5 of 1000 children.

For brief descriptions of these and other diagnoses taken from
DSM IV click here.

Studies in the News-California Department of Mental Health http://www.library.ca.gov/sitn/cdmh/docs/20080328.pdf

Out of the Silence – An advocacy network for youth and young adult mental health. Targeted specifically towards middle school, high school and college-aged youth. It is a web based initiative designed to provide an outlet for creative expression of emotions through artwork and writing. It also fosters a sense of community that is fundamental to the success of its audience. Web address: www.stepoutofthesilence.org

NC Collaborative for Children, Youth and Families – The North Carolina State Collaborative for Children and Families, through a System of Care framework, provides a forum for collaboration, advocacy and action among families, public and private child and family serving agencies and community partners to improve outcomes for all children, youth and families. Web address: www.nccollaborative.org

Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC)- ECAC is a private non-profit parent organization committed to improving the lives and education of ALL children through a special emphasis on children with disabilities. Web address: www.ecac-parentcenter.org/index.htm

Wrightslaw: Special Education Law
The Wrightslaw web site is designed for families, advocates, educators, and attorneys looking for accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities, including those with mental illnesses.
Web address: www.wrightslaw.com

NC Families United Children/youth with serious emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges and their families will have a person centered, family driven System of Care to ensure their independence, safety, happiness and success in their homes, school and community. Web address: www.ncfamiliesunited.org

LD Online-LD Online is the world’s leading web site on learning disabilities and ADHD, serving more than 200,000 parents, teachers, and other professionals each month. Web address: www.ldonline.org

National Insititute of Mental Health (NIMH)-The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health. Web address: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)-The nation’s leading non-profit organization serving individuals with AD/HD and their families. CHADD has over 16,000 members in 200 local chapters throughout the U.S. Chapters offer support for individuals, parents, teachers, professionals, and others. Web address: www.chadd.org

NC Mental Hope-North Carolina Mental Hope’s mission is to increase public awareness and support of mental health and to decrease stigma surrounding mental illness. Web address: www.ncmentalhope.org

Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
Children, Adolescents and Family Resources. Web address: www.mentalhealth.org

Mental Health Association of NC (MHA-NC)- Mission is to promote mental health, prevent mental disorders, and eliminate discrimation against people with mental disorders. They accomplish these goals through advocacy, education, service and research. Web address: www.mha-nc.org

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
CMS administers the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) programs. Web address: www.cms.hhs.gov

All Kinds of Minds-All Kinds of Minds is a non-profit Institute that helps students who struggle with learning measurably improve their success in school and life by providing programs that integrate educational, scientific, and clinical expertise. Web address: www.allkindsofminds.org

Autism Speaks- Dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals. Web address: www.autismspeaks.org