National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(800) 843-5678
Child Help USA - Child Abuse Hotline
(800) 422-4453
National Runaway Hotline
(800) 786-2929
Like adults, children and adolescents can suffer from mental illnesses that affect their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The causes of mental illness in children are primarily biological and environmental in nature. Examples of biological causes include genetics, chemical imbalances in the body, or central nervous system damage, such as a head injury. Environmental causes may include exposure to lead, socio-economic status, exposure to violence, and relationship issues.
Like physical health, mental health is important in every stage of life, and children and adolescents with mental health issues should get help as soon as possible. Signs of mental illness in children and adolescents may include:
Persistent feelings of sadness/hopelessness for no apparent reason
Persistent feelings of anger
Anxious and/or often worried
Extreme and persistent aggression
Suicidal feelings/thoughts
Bizarre thoughts and/or behaviors
An evaluation by a licensed mental health provider is critical in diagnosing a mental illness in children and adolescents. Once a mental health diagnosis is confirmed, children and adolescents can be successfully treated with the help of qualified professionals.
