Up to 21% of Children Have Mental Illnesses; Few Are Treated

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released “Mental Health Surveillance among Children," the government’s first comprehensive study of children’s mental health.  Its researchers synthesized federal data and research from 2005 through 2011 and focused primarily on the prevalence in children under age 18 of (1) suicide, (2) attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, (3) behavioral or conduct problems, (4) anxiety, and (5) depression. 

Their findings include that:

• in any given year, 13% to 21% of children have mental disorders that alter the way they learn, behave, and cope with their emotions;
• childhood mental illnesses cost families and society about $247 billion annually for treatment, special education, and juvenile justice services, in addition to lost productivity;
• only 21% of mentally ill children get treatment, mainly due to shortages of pediatric sub-specialists and child and adolescent psychiatrists, a trend likely to continue as fewer medical students choose careers in these areas, and
• 40% of children have more than one diagnosed mental illness, some of which are associated with childhood criminal behavior, drug and alcohol abuse, and engaging in other forms of risky behavior.