Mental illnesses are not exclusive to adults. Children of all ages experience mental disorders (or illnesses), many of which can be serious enough to impact all aspects of their daily lives. When left untreated, these disorders can lead to conflicts at home and school, with friends and family; drug abuse; dropping out of school; problems with the juvenile justice system; and even suicide.

Understanding the facts about mental disorders in children and learning what to look for are the first steps to getting help. Below are some basic facts and information about mental disorders and children. Visit our Resources page for a list of organizations focused on helping children and their families and our Roadmap to Help page for help finding the right services for your child.

In the United States:*

  • Mental disorders affect approximately one-in-five children.
  • Approximately five to nine percent of children between the ages of nine and 17 live with severe emotional disturbances (SED) that cause functional impairment in their daily lives.
  • 79% of children from ages six to 17 living with a mental disorder do not receive mental health care. And children without health care insurance have a higher rate of unmet need than children with public or private insurance.
  • Approximately 50% of students (14 years of age and older) with a mental disorder drop out of high school — the highest dropout rate of any disability group.
  • Suicide is the third leading cause of death among children ages 15 to 24, and more than 90% of children and adolescents who commit suicide have a mental disorder. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
  • 70% of youth involved in state and local juvenile justice systems live with mental disorders, 20% experience symptoms so severe that their ability to function is significantly impaired. For more information about juvenile justice and mental health illness read Blueprint for Change (National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, 2006).
  • Untreated mental disorders in children are often linked to substance abuse.
  • Many options for treatment exist and work for children living with mental disorders, including psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, and psychopharmacology, among others.

Types of Mental Disorders Affecting Children

According to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General, the following are common mental disorders suffered by children:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Attention-deficit and disruptive behavior disorders
  • Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Elimination disorders
  • Learning and communication disorders
  • Mood disorders (e.g., depressive disorders)
  • Schizophrenia
  • Tic disorders

Signs of Mental Disorders in Children

The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has published the following warning signs of mental disorders in children.

A child or adolescent is troubled by feeling:

  • Sad and hopeless for no reason, and these feelings do not go away.
  • Very angry most of the time and crying a lot or overreacting to things.
  • Worthless or guilty often.
  • Anxious or worried often.
  • Unable to get over a loss or death of someone important.
  • Extremely fearful or having unexplained fears.
  • Constantly concerned about physical problems or physical appearance.
  • Frightened that his or her mind either is controlled or is out of control.

A child or adolescent experiences big changes, such as:

  • Showing declining performance in school.
  • Losing interest in things once enjoyed.
  • Experiencing unexplained changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
  • Avoiding friends or family and wanting to be alone all the time.
  • Daydreaming too much and not completing tasks.
  • Feeling life is too hard to handle.
  • Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
  • Experiencing suicidal thoughts.

A child or adolescent experiences:

  • Poor concentration and is unable to think straight or make up his or her mind.
  • An inability to sit still or focus attention.
  • Worry about being harmed, hurting others, or doing something “bad”.
  • A need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines hundreds of times a day, in order to avoid an unsubstantiated danger.
  • Racing thoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
  • Persistent nightmares.

A child or adolescent behaves in ways that cause problems, such as:

  • Using alcohol or other drugs.
  • Eating large amounts of food and then purging, or abusing laxatives, to avoid weight gain.
  • Dieting and/or exercising obsessively.
  • Violating the rights of others or constantly breaking the law without regard for other people.
  • Setting fires.
  • Doing things that can be life threatening.
  • Killing animals.
*The information this page is adapted from: National Alliance on Mental Illness, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General—Executive Summary (1999); Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Mental Health America; and SAMHSA.