Adolescent Mental Health

Many adolescents have mental health problems that interfere with their normal development and daily life activities. Some mental health problems are mild, while others are more severe. Some mental health problems last for only short periods of time, while others, potentially, last a lifetime. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reports the following:

  • One in 10 children and adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause problems in their development and daily life.
  • Research studies have reported that up to 3 percent of children and up to 8 percent of adolescents in the US suffer from depression.
  • Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems that occur in children and adolescents.
  • Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are common among adolescent and young women in the US.

It is important to know that help is available. Most adolescents who experience mental health problems can return to normal daily lives, if they receive appropriate treatment.

There are many different mental health problems affecting adolescents that require the clinical care of a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview.

If you cannot find the information in which you are interested, please visit the Adolescent Medicine related Web sites page to view a list of Web sites that may contain additional information on that topic.

Schizophrenia
Mood Disorders
Overview of Mood Disorders Major Depression
Dysthymia
Manic Depression / Bipolar Disorder Teen Suicide Anxiety Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Phobias
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Behavior Disorders Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
Conduct Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Obesity Determining Your Body Mass Index Substance Abuse / Chemical Dependence
Adjustment Disorders
Chronic Illness and Transplantation Issues and the Adolescent
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