[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]
Solving Mental Health of Children & Adolescents
Mental health deals with the emotional, social and psychological well-being of an individual. It has a direct impact on the way one thinks, feel and acts. Moreover, it determines the way one handles stress, respond to negative emotions and make choices. It is imperative at every stage of life. If one experiences mental health issues, it impacts their mood, thinking and behavior negatively. Factors that contribute to mental health issues are many; it may stem from negative life experiences such as abuse, biological factors, or a family history of mental health issues. Mental health issues are one of the foremost causes of the global burden of diseases; it has become a significant problem nationwide. Unfortunately, the pediatric population and adults are not spared of this problem.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, millions of people affected by poor mental health in the United States. The statistics of 2018 reveal 19.1% of U.S. adults facing mental illness; this infers one in 5 adults who have poor mental health issues ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"TVVR5G6u","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(\\uc0\\u8220{}Mental Health By the Numbers,\\uc0\\u8221{} n.d.)","plainCitation":"(“Mental Health By the Numbers,” n.d.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":120,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/5B5DHVSF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/5B5DHVSF"],"itemData":{"id":120,"type":"webpage","title":"Mental Health By the Numbers","URL":"https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-by-the-numbers","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,5]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“Mental Health By the Numbers,” n.d.). Adults aged 18-25 years show the highest ratio of mental health issues and among these, females are suffering more than males. The Center for Diseases Control and Prevention reports the prevalence of ADHD, depression, and anxiety to be the most common mental disorders in children age 2-17 years ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"XKUhuKzz","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(CDC, 2019)","plainCitation":"(CDC, 2019)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":118,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/NKSHAPRF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/NKSHAPRF"],"itemData":{"id":118,"type":"webpage","abstract":"Read data highlights about children's mental health.","container-title":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention","language":"en-us","title":"Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health | CDC","URL":"https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html","author":[{"family":"CDC","given":""}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,5]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019",4,19]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (CDC, 2019). This makes a population of 6.1 million and with the increase in age, these issues arise. Among the kids of 2-8 years, boys have a high prevalence of psychological issues as compares to girls ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"2fF8aZjt","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(CDC, 2019)","plainCitation":"(CDC, 2019)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":118,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/NKSHAPRF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/NKSHAPRF"],"itemData":{"id":118,"type":"webpage","abstract":"Read data highlights about children's mental health.","container-title":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention","language":"en-us","title":"Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health | CDC","URL":"https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html","author":[{"family":"CDC","given":""}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,5]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019",4,19]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (CDC, 2019). According to the National Health Institute of Mental Health, 46.6 million adults are with any mental illness (AMI) and11.2 a million adults in the US have been diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"MCWhOblg","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(\\uc0\\u8220{}NIMH\\uc0\\u8239{}\\uc0\\u187{} Mental Illness,\\uc0\\u8221{} n.d.)","plainCitation":"(“NIMH » Mental Illness,” n.d.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":122,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/4SBZYKQF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/4SBZYKQF"],"itemData":{"id":122,"type":"webpage","title":"NIMH » Mental Illness","URL":"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,5]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“NIMH » Mental Illness,” n.d.). In the state of Oregon, the percentage of adults facing mental illness is similar to that of national ratio.
The high prevalence of mental health issues creates a ripple effect on the subject, on their family and on the community at large. Any type of mental illness can make one vulnerable to many health issues. Childhood is the stage of development; psychological illness at the early period of their life results in the many emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders. individuals with depression are most likely to develop metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Anxiety issues make children sense uneasy, distressed and strangely scared for no appropriate motive. High school students reporting the symptoms of depression and anxiety are more likely to drop out ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"nZy8XIpu","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Honkanen et al., 2014)","plainCitation":"(Honkanen et al., 2014)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":126,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/FW6XLKUN"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/FW6XLKUN"],"itemData":{"id":126,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Journal of Adolescent Health","issue":"1","page":"81-87","title":"Teachers' assessments of children's mental problems with respect to adolescents' subsequent self-reported mental health","volume":"54","author":[{"family":"Honkanen","given":"Meri"},{"family":"Määttä","given":"Heidi"},{"family":"Hurtig","given":"Tuula"},{"family":"Ebeling","given":"Hanna"},{"family":"Taanila","given":"Anja"},{"family":"Koivumaa-Honkanen","given":"Heli"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Honkanen et al., 2014). Panic disorders, featured, with the aid of extreme episodes of worry, which arise with none type of provocation or sign are a commonplace form of tension ailment. Adults dealing with mental illness face career development issues and unemployment rates are higher among these adults ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Lrs3em9U","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(\\uc0\\u8220{}Mental Health By the Numbers,\\uc0\\u8221{} n.d.)","plainCitation":"(“Mental Health By the Numbers,” n.d.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":120,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/5B5DHVSF"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/5B5DHVSF"],"itemData":{"id":120,"type":"webpage","title":"Mental Health By the Numbers","URL":"https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-by-the-numbers","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",12,5]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (“Mental Health By the Numbers,” n.d.). OCD or obsessive-compulsive ailment, that is repetitive and compulsive in nature, is every other type of tension sickness.
Depression is also reported to be the highest cause of disability among kids and adolescents. Mental illness at any stage of life is directly linked with the impairment of physical and mental wellbeing coupled with limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. Adults with poor mental health conditions are vulnerable to discrimination, stigma, social exclusion, risk-taking behaviors, and human rights violations. It not only impacts the development and performance in schools and professional lives but also impacts relationships with family, friends, and society at large. Mental health difficulties if not treated for a toddler at the early stage, continue in their adulthood.
Violent behavior of kids and adults that stem from mental disorders can be deteriorating for the society as well. The ultimate outcome of mental sickness can be self-harm and vicious behavior eventually leading to making suicide attempts, or killing others. The high prevalence of psychological disorders demands successful amelioration of wellbeing of kids and young adults through evidence based programs and policies.
Review of Literature
Owing to the high prevalence of mental health issues among kids and adults, and their corrosive impacts on the physical, cognitive and mental well-being of individuals; researchers have explored various underlying risk factors. It is a common understanding that a wide range of antecedents can contribute to poor mental health in kids and adults. These factors range from issues facing at schools, poor relationships with family and peers to discrimination and exposure to some externalities. Child abuse can be one of the contributing factors of poor mental health among kids. Physical abuse, if it results in the failures in emotional control, will necessarily produce mental problems, but sexual abuse almost always will. This is because in sexual abuse and in physical abuse, the child will instinctively recognize that the adult is putting their own interests/needs before their own ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"qjsBtZ8W","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Afifi et al., 2014)","plainCitation":"(Afifi et al., 2014)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":125,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/BHWE9JQK"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/BHWE9JQK"],"itemData":{"id":125,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Cmaj","issue":"9","page":"E324-E332","title":"Child abuse and mental disorders in Canada","volume":"186","author":[{"family":"Afifi","given":"Tracie O."},{"family":"MacMillan","given":"Harriet L."},{"family":"Boyle","given":"Michael"},{"family":"Taillieu","given":"Tamara"},{"family":"Cheung","given":"Kristene"},{"family":"Sareen","given":"Jitender"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Afifi et al., 2014). The psychological developments that must take place during infancy and childhood require the safety, and freedom from undue anxiety, which is provided by an almost instinctive trust in the adult putting the child’s interests before their own. This is because a child is dependent on the much greater powers of the adult for her overall safety, physical and psychological. In fact, child abuse can result in extreme outcomes such as suicidal thoughts and intentions ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"HEykck2a","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Afifi et al., 2014)","plainCitation":"(Afifi et al., 2014)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":125,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/BHWE9JQK"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/BHWE9JQK"],"itemData":{"id":125,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Cmaj","issue":"9","page":"E324-E332","title":"Child abuse and mental disorders in Canada","volume":"186","author":[{"family":"Afifi","given":"Tracie O."},{"family":"MacMillan","given":"Harriet L."},{"family":"Boyle","given":"Michael"},{"family":"Taillieu","given":"Tamara"},{"family":"Cheung","given":"Kristene"},{"family":"Sareen","given":"Jitender"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2014"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Afifi et al., 2014).
Among the factors that are generally unknown and unusual, resulting in mental illness are passive smoking and smoke exposure. A study by Bandiera and fellows examined the potential association of second-hand smoking with mental disorders. Kids and adults of age 8 to 15 years participated in the study and the second-hand smoking exposure was measured to find any links with mental illness. The results of the study were consistent with the body of research associating mental health outcomes with secondhand smoking ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"uD7XrG1J","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011)","plainCitation":"(Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":124,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/ZBXRB8FP"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/ZBXRB8FP"],"itemData":{"id":124,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine","issue":"4","page":"332-338","title":"Secondhand smoke exposure and mental health among children and adolescents","volume":"165","author":[{"family":"Bandiera","given":"Frank C."},{"family":"Richardson","given":"Amanda Kalaydjian"},{"family":"Lee","given":"David J."},{"family":"He","given":"Jian-Ping"},{"family":"Merikangas","given":"Kathleen R."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2011"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011). Serum cotinine level was linked with the generalized anxiety disorder, ADHD, major depressive disorder, and conduct disorder as well ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"uD7XrG1J","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011)","plainCitation":"(Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":124,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/ZBXRB8FP"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/ZBXRB8FP"],"itemData":{"id":124,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine","issue":"4","page":"332-338","title":"Secondhand smoke exposure and mental health among children and adolescents","volume":"165","author":[{"family":"Bandiera","given":"Frank C."},{"family":"Richardson","given":"Amanda Kalaydjian"},{"family":"Lee","given":"David J."},{"family":"He","given":"Jian-Ping"},{"family":"Merikangas","given":"Kathleen R."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2011"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011). It has also been observed that racial and ethnic minorities also suffer from mental disorders owing to poor quality mental health services, lack of awareness and cultural stigma. Besides, they also face discrimination from different walks of life; a major contributing factor towards poor mental health. A study based on Aboriginal school children reports a high prevalence of school violence. Researchers also observed a high prevalence of mental disorders among these children and children facing school violence issues reported a high percentage of these disorders as compared to other children ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"oZ2QWFRi","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":127,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"itemData":{"id":127,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Social Science & Medicine","page":"70-78","title":"Mental health of Aboriginal children and adolescents in violent school environments: Protective mediators of violence and psychological/nervous disorders","volume":"81","author":[{"family":"Kaspar","given":"Violet"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Kaspar, 2013). Cultural detachment, poor parent-child relationships, and peers relationship mediates the relation between mental health and school violence ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"WaS69QFU","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":127,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"itemData":{"id":127,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Social Science & Medicine","page":"70-78","title":"Mental health of Aboriginal children and adolescents in violent school environments: Protective mediators of violence and psychological/nervous disorders","volume":"81","author":[{"family":"Kaspar","given":"Violet"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Kaspar, 2013). Better family relationships to be the preventive factor in mental illness is supported by many studies ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VW77H3H8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","plainCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":133,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"itemData":{"id":133,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"European child & adolescent psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"133-147","title":"Risk and protective factors for children’s and adolescents’ mental health: results of the BELLA study","volume":"17","author":[{"family":"Wille","given":"Nora"},{"family":"Bettge","given":"Susanne"},{"family":"Ravens-Sieberer","given":"Ulrike"},{"family":"Group","given":"BELLA Study"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008). At the same time, lack of these resources can directly contribute to the psychological issues thus proving family and support from relationships to be the major protective factor in kids and adults facing mental health issues.
Studies also infer that the Adverse family climate is also a major contributor to the mental health issues in kids' stands ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VW77H3H8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","plainCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":133,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"itemData":{"id":133,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"European child & adolescent psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"133-147","title":"Risk and protective factors for children’s and adolescents’ mental health: results of the BELLA study","volume":"17","author":[{"family":"Wille","given":"Nora"},{"family":"Bettge","given":"Susanne"},{"family":"Ravens-Sieberer","given":"Ulrike"},{"family":"Group","given":"BELLA Study"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008). Moreover, more than one factor occurring simultaneously results in the high prevalence of mental health issues. on the other hand, protective factors such as family support, and social resources coincide with reduced prevalence of such issues ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VW77H3H8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","plainCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":133,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"itemData":{"id":133,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"European child & adolescent psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"133-147","title":"Risk and protective factors for children’s and adolescents’ mental health: results of the BELLA study","volume":"17","author":[{"family":"Wille","given":"Nora"},{"family":"Bettge","given":"Susanne"},{"family":"Ravens-Sieberer","given":"Ulrike"},{"family":"Group","given":"BELLA Study"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008). It is also explored from the studies that children and adults have a better understanding of their mental health symptoms yet they avoid sharing because of their perceptions. They believe disclosing these issues would result in stigmatizing and weird responses from peers, teachers and even parents ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"1rzebFnv","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(MacLean, Hunt, & Sweeting, 2013)","plainCitation":"(MacLean, Hunt, & Sweeting, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":132,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/M5IER8TZ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/M5IER8TZ"],"itemData":{"id":132,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Children & society","issue":"3","page":"161-173","title":"Symptoms of mental health problems: Children’s and adolescents’ understandings and implications for gender differences in help seeking","volume":"27","author":[{"family":"MacLean","given":"Alice"},{"family":"Hunt","given":"Kate"},{"family":"Sweeting","given":"Helen"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (MacLean, Hunt, & Sweeting, 2013). However, the better parent-child relationship is one of the most imperative protective factors in thwarting negative impacts of mental illness alongside improving the mental wellbeing of kids ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"ZV3WarPb","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":127,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"itemData":{"id":127,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Social Science & Medicine","page":"70-78","title":"Mental health of Aboriginal children and adolescents in violent school environments: Protective mediators of violence and psychological/nervous disorders","volume":"81","author":[{"family":"Kaspar","given":"Violet"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Kaspar, 2013).
The lack of access to quality treatment for mental health is too one of the key causes of mental disorders among kids and adults. Studies reveal a decline in kids’ mental health services in the US and at the same time a high prevalence of the issues ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"tRObCeYc","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hoagwood et al., 2018)","plainCitation":"(Hoagwood et al., 2018)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":128,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/DNHXYB8A"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/DNHXYB8A"],"itemData":{"id":128,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"10-13","title":"Trends in children’s mental health services research funding by the National Institute of Mental Health from 2005 to 2015: A 42% reduction","volume":"57","author":[{"family":"Hoagwood","given":"Kimberly Eaton"},{"family":"Atkins","given":"Marc"},{"family":"Kelleher","given":"Kelly"},{"family":"Peth-Pierce","given":"Robin"},{"family":"Olin","given":"Serene"},{"family":"Burns","given":"Barbara"},{"family":"Landsverk","given":"John"},{"family":"Horwitz","given":"Sarah McCue"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hoagwood et al., 2018). In addition, a decrease in funding for mental health services and mental health services research also threatens the availability of quality mental health treatment to children ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Ok51Wn9u","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Hoagwood et al., 2018)","plainCitation":"(Hoagwood et al., 2018)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":128,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/DNHXYB8A"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/DNHXYB8A"],"itemData":{"id":128,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"10-13","title":"Trends in children’s mental health services research funding by the National Institute of Mental Health from 2005 to 2015: A 42% reduction","volume":"57","author":[{"family":"Hoagwood","given":"Kimberly Eaton"},{"family":"Atkins","given":"Marc"},{"family":"Kelleher","given":"Kelly"},{"family":"Peth-Pierce","given":"Robin"},{"family":"Olin","given":"Serene"},{"family":"Burns","given":"Barbara"},{"family":"Landsverk","given":"John"},{"family":"Horwitz","given":"Sarah McCue"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Hoagwood et al., 2018). Every study understood the need for evidence-based mental-health programs and interventions ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"oiQTgF0f","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Kaspar, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":127,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/MAKCBLWR"],"itemData":{"id":127,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Social Science & Medicine","page":"70-78","title":"Mental health of Aboriginal children and adolescents in violent school environments: Protective mediators of violence and psychological/nervous disorders","volume":"81","author":[{"family":"Kaspar","given":"Violet"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Kaspar, 2013).
Kids nowadays spend much less time with other kids, a lot more time being sedentary, isolated, and looking at social media which has been strongly correlated to depressive symptoms. These kids would be experiencing increased mental health issues if they lived the way millions of other kids in the past did (leaving the house to play outside with other kids). Thus lack of social relationships, and making friends results in poor mental health.
Strategies and interventions required to treat these mental health issues also differ with respect to the risk level, for instance, children with high risk need complex intervention. In the case of children with low-risk levels, the key objective of intervention programs is strengthening protective resources through prevention programs ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VW77H3H8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","plainCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":133,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"itemData":{"id":133,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"European child & adolescent psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"133-147","title":"Risk and protective factors for children’s and adolescents’ mental health: results of the BELLA study","volume":"17","author":[{"family":"Wille","given":"Nora"},{"family":"Bettge","given":"Susanne"},{"family":"Ravens-Sieberer","given":"Ulrike"},{"family":"Group","given":"BELLA Study"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008).
Evidence-based programs and/or policies
Solving the issue of mental health among kids and adults requires the implication of strategies that thwart these risk facts discussed above and strengthens the protective factors needed to reduce the impacts of the issue. It’s very easy to dismiss these symptoms as “how a child usually acts” but it’s important to understand and distinguish normal behavior from disordered behavior. If any symptoms noticed in the child or adults, parents and teachers must not make the mistake of diagnosing anything serious late. School plays an essential role in the development of kids, and therefore school-based intervention programs are proven to be effective by many studies. A study based on evaluating the group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program for the school children exposed to violence and reported mental illness, reported positive outcomes (Kataoka et al., 2003). This infers that group-based therapies in schools are more effective for kids and young adults as compared to individual therapies. The program also involved psychoeducation for parents and teachers that further enhanced the effectiveness of the program (Kataoka et al., 2003). A modest decline in mental health issues arising from any cause, specifically from school violence and child abuse can be attained by such programs. These programs can also create awareness regarding mental health issues from passive smoking with the knowledge shared to protect oneself from such exposure ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"uD7XrG1J","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011)","plainCitation":"(Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":124,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/ZBXRB8FP"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/ZBXRB8FP"],"itemData":{"id":124,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine","issue":"4","page":"332-338","title":"Secondhand smoke exposure and mental health among children and adolescents","volume":"165","author":[{"family":"Bandiera","given":"Frank C."},{"family":"Richardson","given":"Amanda Kalaydjian"},{"family":"Lee","given":"David J."},{"family":"He","given":"Jian-Ping"},{"family":"Merikangas","given":"Kathleen R."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2011"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bandiera, Richardson, Lee, He, & Merikangas, 2011). At the same time, schools are also encouraged to implement bullying and violence prevention programs to eliminate one of the key causes of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD among schoolchildren;, particularly minorities.
In addition to the school-based programs, the increasing tendency of using the internet and social media among the kids and adults also draws attention towards the internet based programs. Based on the current lifestyle choices of adults, automated therapy programs and internet-based depression information was explored by researchers. These programs are proven to be very effective in case of a lack of face-to-face mental health service availability (Griffiths, & Christensen, 2007). The Internet can be a great platform in creating awareness about mental health alongside promoting wellness among its users. Thus, internet-based programs can help lessen the impacts of poor mental health issues in the case of all those having a lack of access to quality care and protective factors (Griffiths, & Christensen, 2007). These programs can also be helpful to those who do not open up their mental health issues with teachers, parents, and peers due to trust issues and fear of uncertainty ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"1rzebFnv","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(MacLean, Hunt, & Sweeting, 2013)","plainCitation":"(MacLean, Hunt, & Sweeting, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":132,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/M5IER8TZ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/M5IER8TZ"],"itemData":{"id":132,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Children & society","issue":"3","page":"161-173","title":"Symptoms of mental health problems: Children’s and adolescents’ understandings and implications for gender differences in help seeking","volume":"27","author":[{"family":"MacLean","given":"Alice"},{"family":"Hunt","given":"Kate"},{"family":"Sweeting","given":"Helen"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (MacLean, Hunt, & Sweeting, 2013). Self-reliance in case of psychological illness can mitigate the impacts of risk factors.
Studies also report that community-based health-care programs are effective in producing positive outcomes in terms of preventing risk factors (Garland et al., 2013). This is also supported by a number of studies; thus community-based programs aimed at educating parents about the significance of parent child relationship and mental well-being of kids and adults can be helpful. Both the fields of mental health and education believe that kids need more medication and mental health services, but mental health issues due to lifestyle can be reduced otherwise. The modern lifestyle most kids lead is a perfect recipe for producing depression and anxiety in otherwise healthy kids, thus changing lifestyle is the best place to start. Kids need some physical activity every day and less sitting/lying down. Parents have to be educated via these community-based programs to start with small changes and keep encouraging them to move more. Parents ought to be educated on the need for social interaction of kids and their better relationships with children ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"VW77H3H8","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","plainCitation":"(Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":133,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/rhLtY1cq/items/P2ZHUHY8"],"itemData":{"id":133,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"European child & adolescent psychiatry","issue":"1","page":"133-147","title":"Risk and protective factors for children’s and adolescents’ mental health: results of the BELLA study","volume":"17","author":[{"family":"Wille","given":"Nora"},{"family":"Bettge","given":"Susanne"},{"family":"Ravens-Sieberer","given":"Ulrike"},{"family":"Group","given":"BELLA Study"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Wille, Bettge, Ravens-Sieberer, & Group, 2008). Many kids spend zero time with other kids their age. This isolation is extremely detrimental and is sure to cause depression and anxiety. They need to get out and physically spend time with other kids their age. I can’t stress this enough, this social isolation is horrible for human beings and results in mental illness (think of isolation punishment for prison inmates). All the programs must also emphasize that kids and adults need some basic nutrition. They need more nutritious and less inflammatory foods. Educating parents on this can also produce positive outcomes.
Conclusion
This research paper aimed at a major social issue, poor mental health among kids and adults through effective programs and strategies. A range of literature has been observed and analyzed to explore the antecedents and protective factors in the mental illness of kids and adults. Based on few studies some factors have been identified such as lack of awareness, passive smoking, child abuse, and poor relationships with other, violence in school, lack of access to quality care and lack of trust in peers, teachers, and parents regarding psychological issues. Besides, some protective factors have also been explored; among which, better relationships with friends and family can lessen the impacts of these issues. School-based intervention programs, community-based education programs, and internet based programs are proven are a few supported by evidence to treat mental health issues. Parents and teachers can also play a major role in this regard. Starting with small changes and encouraging kids and adults towards bigger changes.
References
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