One in 10 U.S. Kids Mentally Ill
One in 10 U.S. Kids Mentally Ill
Jan. 3, 2001 (Washington) -- One in 10 American children and teens suffers from mental illness -- and just one in five of those receives treatment, according to U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD.
In a 52-page wake-up call released today, Satcher calls the situation a "public health crisis in mental health for children and adolescents."
"Growing numbers of children are suffering needlessly because their emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs are not being met by those very institutions which were explicitly created to take care of them," writes Satcher in the report, which he calls "a blueprint for change."
Specifically, the surgeon general wants to promote public awareness of children's mental health issues, reduce the stigma of these diseases, and improve the ability to recognize symptoms of mental health in children. "We need to help families understand that these problems are real, that they often can be prevented, and that effective treatments are available," he writes.
The nation's top doctor also takes a swipe at institutions charged with providing mental health services to kids. The treatment they offer should be better coordinated and integrated with other elements of the health care system, he says. Satcher also complains that wide disparities in children's mental health services exist among racial groups and the poor.
Another big problem is the stigma associated with children's mental problems, according to Satcher. David Fassler, MD, agrees. The psychiatrist is chair of the American Psychiatric Association's Council on Children, Adolescents, and Their Families and was the APA representative at a national conference last September's on children's mental health. Issues raised at that conference served as the basis for the present report.
Refusing to deal with mental illness can lead to long-term consequences, says Fassler, including poor school performance, trouble on the job, and low self-esteem. "The good news is that most of these problems are treatable. We can help all children and adolescents with psychiatric problems," Fassler tells WebMD.
Among the most common mental health issues for kids are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety disorders, conduct disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders, says Fassler.
One in 10 U.S. Kids Mentally Ill
Jan. 3, 2001 (Washington) -- One in 10 American children and teens suffers from mental illness -- and just one in five of those receives treatment, according to U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD.
In a 52-page wake-up call released today, Satcher calls the situation a "public health crisis in mental health for children and adolescents."
"Growing numbers of children are suffering needlessly because their emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs are not being met by those very institutions which were explicitly created to take care of them," writes Satcher in the report, which he calls "a blueprint for change."
Specifically, the surgeon general wants to promote public awareness of children's mental health issues, reduce the stigma of these diseases, and improve the ability to recognize symptoms of mental health in children. "We need to help families understand that these problems are real, that they often can be prevented, and that effective treatments are available," he writes.
The nation's top doctor also takes a swipe at institutions charged with providing mental health services to kids. The treatment they offer should be better coordinated and integrated with other elements of the health care system, he says. Satcher also complains that wide disparities in children's mental health services exist among racial groups and the poor.
Another big problem is the stigma associated with children's mental problems, according to Satcher. David Fassler, MD, agrees. The psychiatrist is chair of the American Psychiatric Association's Council on Children, Adolescents, and Their Families and was the APA representative at a national conference last September's on children's mental health. Issues raised at that conference served as the basis for the present report.
Refusing to deal with mental illness can lead to long-term consequences, says Fassler, including poor school performance, trouble on the job, and low self-esteem. "The good news is that most of these problems are treatable. We can help all children and adolescents with psychiatric problems," Fassler tells WebMD.
Among the most common mental health issues for kids are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety disorders, conduct disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders, says Fassler.