It’s been estimated that 20 percent of kids have an undiagnosed mental illness. Yet the number of kids receiving treatment for a mental illness is not that high. That means that a large number of children and youth are dealing with a genuine health condition without getting professional help for that condition.
One reason that undiagnosed mental illness persists could be that there is much misunderstanding
surrounding mental health. The presence of mental illness in no way corresponds to a person’s age, intelligence, race or income bracket. Neither is it the result of weak character. Such prejudicial thinking can prevent parents from being willing to acknowledge that their child is experiencing a mental health struggle.
Yet, undiagnosed mental illness has wide ranging effects for the person involved. Young people with undiagnosed, and therefore untreated, mental illness are vulnerable to several negative outcomes. These youth are more likely to leave school without a diploma, abuse substances or wind up in jail. Close to 50 percent of all young people in jail are living with an undiagnosed mental illness.
Approximately one half of all mental illnesses start to manifest during the early teen years (14 years). The sooner the illness is identified and addressed, the better the outcome. As it is, 70 percent of those who are diagnosed and treated see positive results.
If your child or teen has experienced two or three of the following symptoms, it is good to schedule a mental health assessment.
- Sleep changes
- Mood changes
- Appetite changes
- Drop in school performance
- New signs of fear or anxiety
- Problems in several areas of life
If you suspect your child might have an undiagnosed mental illness, don’t put off looking for help. Call us at Family Guidance today. Don’t ignore the problem and wind up as just another statistic. Get help and watch how things can turn around.
