Mental illness often begins at an early age, though detection may not lead to a diagnosis until later in life.
Children are difficult to diagnose because their developmental stages move very quickly, and what seems like a possible sign of mental illness may just be the natural progression through a stage of development.
Toddlers and small children, for instance, often show signs of obsessive-compulsive behavior, but this is actually normal in many cases because the obsessions and compulsions are part of the learning process for motor skills, language and reasoning.
Young age makes research difficult
The difficulty in diagnosing a condition in a child is not for lack of research. Volumes of research have been attempted and documented for decades, but the same issues that inhibit fundamental research into many mental illnesses and their causes in adults are further exacerbated by the young age and limited powers of expression children have.
Yet a few things are known, and it is possible for parents to at least have a good idea of when an activity is beyond normal and should be mentioned to a healthcare professional.
Risk factors and most common mental illnesses in children
Psychologists, especially those specializing in pediatrics, proceed from the assumption that a combination of factors can create mental illness in children. These factors include stress, trauma, biology and heredity.
Some types of mental illness, such as autism spectrum disorder, are known to be largely biological but can be "triggered" by environmental stress or trauma. Others, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are generally not well understood in terms of their causes, though many theories exist to attempt to explain it.
The most common mental illnesses in children under age 12 (pre-teens) are ADHD, mood disorders, eating disorders, autism and schizophrenia.
Signs of mental illness in children
Pediatric psychologists recommend that parents seek medical advice whenever their child exhibits unusual behaviors, especially any of the following:
- Drastic changes in behavior or personality. This is especially true of violent or out of control behavior, which should be dealt with immediately. A child who is socially normalized (fitting their personality) who suddenly becomes very different, especially toward the negative, may be experiencing side effects from an onset of mental illness or other serious problems such as drug abuse.
- A sudden change in a child's academic performance that cannot be easily explained. Sometimes, short-term dips in performance are explained by personal problems like rejection or a break-up, the death of a relative, etc. When these are not easily explained or become longer-term, however, parents should be concerned.
- Loss of appetite or sudden changes in physical appearance from weight loss or gain. Parents who suspect an eating disorder should monitor the frequency of visits to the bathroom and whether the child is over- or under-eating.
- Sudden mood changes are relatively normal for growing children whose body chemistry is continually in flux. When these become serious, however, with signs of withdrawal or interference with family and relationships, they can be indicators of mental illness.
- Some children suffer from obvious phobias, such as a fear of spiders or sickness. When these become anxieties and interfere with normal day-to-day activities, however, they should be treated. It is normal for little girls to scream at spiders, for example, but it is not normal for them to sit on their bed in fear that walking across the floor might mean touching one that isn't there.
Parents should feel unrestrained in communicating with their children and learning what is going on in their lives that could trigger changes in emotional behavior. Often, the changes are temporary and a normal part of growing up. But if they become serious and are left unchecked, they can lead to life-long issues that could have been prevented.
