According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health in children and adolescents "means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems" (2016). However, 10-20 percent of children worldwide experience mental disorders which, if left untreated, can not only alter the way adolescents behave, interact, and learn, but can also impact their basic mental and emotional development (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). In the United States alone it is estimated that 13 – 20 percent of adolescents suffer from these disorders in a given year, making it all the more imperative for parents and educators in our country to learn how to recognize the signs of mental health disorders in their students (CDC, 2016).
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Three of the most common mental health issues adolescents face today are depression, anxiety disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is estimated that 3.7 percent of children between the ages of eight and fifteen suffer from depression, and at least 25 percent of high school age children exhibit mild symptoms such as moodiness, fatigue, irritability, lack of enjoyment from usual activities, and feelings of sadness throughout the day (“Recognizing Teen Depression,” 2016). If not recognized and treated early, these depressive symptoms can turn into Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which can manifest itself physically and emotionally, and can return multiple times throughout one's lifetime (Foreman-Hoffman, et al., 2016).
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These disorders can also end in suicide or attempted suicide. 10 percent of adolescents suffer from the second most common illness, anxiety disorders. These disorders can include generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, social anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as many others. ADHD is another very prevalent mental disorder, affecting 8.6 percent of kids ages eight to fifteen and 9 percent of teens ages twelve to seventeen. ADHD causes inattentive behavior, fidgeting, and difficulty maintaining healthy social and family relationships, all of which in turn contribute to adolescent isolation and social discrimination (WHO, 2016).
With so much stigma attached to those with mental illnesses in today's society the question becomes not necessarily how to recognize mental health issues in adolescents, but what is being done to address those issues. Schools in low-income communities are beginning to address the problem by implementing school-based health centers (SBHCs) in order to improve educational and health outputs. Seventy percent of these centers provide mental health services and all are required to provide basic medical care (Bains & Diallo, 2015). Students that use the mental health services these centers provide are more often than not diagnosed with one of the above disorders, and receive help on a near-daily basis. By providing these centers and educating teachers, administrators, and school health workers on the signs and warnings of mental illness and disorders, schools are continually working to keep students healthy and safe.