The debate over mental health diagnoses in children Since 1990, the debate has raged over mental health diagnoses in children. Parents and caregivers have concerns over whether the diagnosis is accurate, and some people fail to believe that children can have a mental health diagnosis. Unfortunately, due to the age of the child, obtaining an accurate diagnosis can be challenging, and treatments can have drastic and irreversible side effects. However, ignoring mental health disorders in children can lead to issues in normal cognitive and behavior development. In order to understand the debate over children and mental health, you need to have a strong grasp on these key areas. Accuracy in mental health diagnoses Although a set of criteria exists for diagnosing mental health disorders in adults, psychiatrists, therapists and other mental health professionals must look at the comprehensive picture of a child. The whole background includes medical, developmental and a mental health evaluation, in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, like adults, children have the potential to suffer from multiple mental health conditions and need dual diagnosis treatment. Mental health disorders affect children of all ages and varying socioeconomic backgrounds, and the CDC estimates that 13 to 20 percent of all children in the U.S. suffer from a mental health disorder each year. The most common mental health disorders affecting children ages 3 to 17 include ADHD, behavior problems, anxiety, depression, Autism spectrum disorders, and Tourette syndrome. Adolescents ages 12 to 17 suffered more severely from the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Sadly, suicide accounted for the leading cause of death of adolescents in 2010.
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