Mental Health Conditions (Diagnosed) - Children in United States

United States

Mental health is an essential component of overall health. Children with good mental health reach developmental and emotional milestones and learn healthy social skills. Early diagnosis of mental health conditions among children is vital to ensuring they don’t have problems at home, in school or forming friendships. Common mental health conditions among children include anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

In 2023, the surgeon general issued an advisory about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health. While social media can provide positive community spaces, studies have shown that there is an association between adolescents spending more time on social media and having poor mental health outcomes. 

Diagnosing anxiety disorders often occurs when a child does not outgrow common fears or when there are so many worries that they interfere with the child’s daily activities. Symptoms of anxiety in children may include being tense or uptight, seeking reassurance, or feeling restless or on edge. Because children with anxiety can be quiet and inclined to seek approval from adults, their challenges might go unnoticed if caregivers do not stay alert to symptoms.

Depression, also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a common but serious mood disorder. The symptoms of depression can impact all aspects of a child’s life, including how they think, feel and handle daily activities. Common symptoms or behaviors often seen in children with depression include frequent or persistent sadness, hopelessness or irritability and lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy.

ADHD is another common disorder that can cause issues at home, in school or with social relationships. Common symptoms of ADHD in children include difficulty paying attention, daydreaming a lot, being easily distracted, needing to be in motion and interrupting others. Children with ADHD are more likely to be diagnosed with a behavior disorder, such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder than other children.

Diagnosing behavior or conduct problems often occurs when children’s disruptive and/or aggressive behaviors are severe or persist past what is age-appropriate. Common behavior or conduct conditions include oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of mental health conditions is higher among:

• Boys compared with girls.
• American Indian/Alaska Native, white and multiracial children compared with Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Asian children.
• Children who have a parent or caregiver with some post-high school education compared with those whose parents or caregivers have less than a high school education.

Childhood mental health disorders can be treated and managed. Treatment works best when parents and doctors work closely with teachers, coaches, therapists and anyone else involved in the child’s life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists resource locators to help parents find the right mental health services for their children and an action guide of strategies to support mental health in schools. They also provide prevention and treatment guidance for disruptive behavior disorders.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for children’s mental health include:

• Screening children and adolescents ages 8-18 for anxiety.
• Screening children and adolescents ages 12-18 for major depressive disorder.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends universal, targeted group and individual school-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs to help prevent and reduce anxiety and depression among school-aged youth. Trained school staff (mental health professionals, nurses or teachers) or external mental health professionals (psychologists or social workers) can facilitate programs to help students develop problem-solving strategies, regulate emotions and establish healthy coping behaviors. The CPSTF also recommends schools implement anti-bullying interventions.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to mental health conditions among children, including:

• Increasing the proportion of children and adolescents who get appropriate treatment for anxiety or depression.
• Increasing the proportion of children and adolescents who get preventive mental health care in school. 
• Increasing the proportion of adolescents with depression who get treatment.
• Increasing the proportion of children and adolescents with ADHD who get appropriate treatment.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2023. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594761/.