Mental Illness 101 - Mental Illness in Children

Mental illness is frightening enough in adults, but in children it can be terrifying. Unfortunately, it can also be common in children. In many cases, mental illness usually rears its ugly head during childhood and carries a child into adulthood. If you notice that your child is experiencing signs of mental illness, such as not behaving normally, you should get him or her help. In most cases, early intervention is the key to a cure.

Some of the most common forms of mental illness in children are as follows:

Autism

Autism is a form of schizophrenia and strikes children when they are toddlers. A normal, healthy and active child suddenly begins to withdraw and regress. The child does not like to be cuddled or comforted, repeats motions and words over and over and will have very limited communication skills. No one knows what causes autism but it is believed that this form of mental illness, like many others, can be inherited. Parents who have one child with autism have a greater risk of having another child with the same mental illness.

ADD or ADHD

Attention deficit disorder is often diagnosed in children and some say that it is over diagnosed. This is a mental illness that is easy to control with medication and therapy. There has been some controversy over the medication that has been used to control children with this mental illness as well as whether or not it is a mental illness itself. Children who have attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactive disorder can not sit still for long, have limited concentration skills and will usually struggle in school. This can sometimes be outgrown, a person can learn to live with the disease or they can take medication to control it.

Depression

Children can get depression just as adults. Depression is a severe mental illness and can be especially severe in teenagers who run a greater risk of committing suicide. Each year, thousands of young people end up taking their own lives because of depression. Many parents ignore the symptoms or consider them just a phase of growing up. Severe depression will cause mood swings, periods of weeping and wanting to be alone. If your child is suffering from what appears to be depression, talk to him or her about it and get them help.

Mental illness in children does not have to be taken with them to adulthood. In some cases, treating the mental illness when a child is a child will enable him or her to have a healthy and productive adult life. Mental illness should never be shrugged off or ignored. Just as you would take your child to the doctor for a physical illness, you should do the same if you suspect your child is suffering from a mental illness.