Mental health
disorders in children and adolescents are caused by biological, environmental,
psychological factors or a combination of these. Examples of biological factors
are genetic abnormalities, chemical imbalances in the body, and damage to the
brain due to many causes such as a head injury. Many environmental factors also
can affect mental health, including exposure to violence, extreme stress, and
the loss of an important person. Families and communities working together can
help children and adolescents with mental disorders. A board range of services
is often necessary to meet the needs of these young people and their families.
Mental problems
(Emotional and behavioral problems) are common among of all ages. Children and
adolescents can have mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. These
problems, or "mental disorder," are sources of stress for children
and their families, schools, and communities. The number of young people and
their families who are affected by mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders
is significant. It is estimated that as many as one in children an adolescents
may have a mental health disorder that can be identified and require treatment.
Children can suffer from mental illnesses similar to those seen in the adults
including depression, schizophrenia or anxiety. In addition, children can have
other types of mental illnesses specifically seen in this age group. Some of
these conditions include:-
a)
Mental
Retardation
b)
Attention
deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
c)
Conduct
Disorder
d)
School Refusal
e)
Enuresis
f)Temper tantrum and breath holding spells
g)
Child hood
depression
Besides these, there are many other mental disorder
which can afflict a child.
A) Specific developmental
disorders: These include either
the non-development or abnormal development of a specific development skills
leading to various difficulties that makes it harder for children and
adolescents to receive or express any information. These disorders can show up
as problems with spoken and written language or motor coordination. Examples
include reading disorder, disorder of written expression, mathematics disorder
or stuttering.
B) Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder: Children with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are unable to focus their attention
and are often impulsive and easily distracted. Most children with this disorder
have great difficulty remaining till, taking turns, and keeping quite. Symptoms
must be evident in sat least two settings, such as home and school, in order
for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to be diagnosed.
These
children are restless, fidgety and cannot sit still for long. They have
difficulty in attending to one thing for long and in following instructions.
Their schoolwork is disorganized and contains many careless mistakes. They are
reckless and accident-prone. Their behavior is tiresome to their parents and it
leads to poor academic performance and poor adjustments with peers.
C. Conduct Disorder: Children with conduct disorder usually have little
concern for other and repeatedly violate the basic right of other the rules of
society. They are aggressive towards other children. Conduct disorder causes
children and adolescents to act out their feelings or impulses in destructive
ways. The offenses these children and adolescents commit often grow more
serious over time. Such offenses may include lying, stealing, aggression,
truancy, disobedience, setting of fires, and vandalism. Alcohol and drugs use
may start at very early age.
D. School refusal: The reluctance or fear to go school is seen among
many fear to go school is among many children. This is knows school refusal or
school phobia. School refusal may be associated with separation anxiety,
shyness and carious fears. The child's mother may be over protective and
anxious The child my refuse school because of problems at school, problems at
home or at times, the child him/herself maybe having some problem.
E. Enuresis: Enuresis is the repetitive voiding of urine, either
during the day or night, at inappropriate places beyond the age of 5 years.
F. Temper tantrum and
breathe holding spells: Most
toddlers have occasional mild temper tantrums, and only frequent or server
temper are abnormal. Tantrums are often provoked by inconsistent discipline.
This may include behaviors like biting, head banging, rolling on floor,
incessant crying, throwing objects or hitting. These are reinforced
unintentionally by attention to the child when they take place.
Periods
of breath- holding are not uncommon in per - school children. Like temper
tantrums, they are often caused by frustration leading to rage. The behavior
can be alarming for parents, especially if the becomes cyanosed before
breathing resumes.
G. Childhood depression: It is common psychiatric disorder on children. Many
children are presented with vague symptoms like pain abdomen, headache and
irritability repeatedly. We may get history of fearfulness, irritability, poor
school performance, nausea, vomiting, and sleep disturbances etc.
H. Child Abuse: This is defined as physical or psychological damage
to under the age of 18 that is sustained as a result of neglect or
maltreatment. The abuse my be physical, sexual and/ or emotional. Usually the
abuse is done by the child's parent/s, a parent surrogate (e.g. a step mother),
a relative or an employer. Child abuse of any nature has long lasting effects
on the overall personality development and has negative psychological effects
as well.
A child can be suspected of having some kind of Mental health problem if:
· The child's behavior is not appropriate for his /
her age
· The child's behavior leads to academic or social
dysfunctional.
· The child's behavior is against social norms and
expectations
If there
is suspicion of any mental health problem in a child, the concerned health
worker should:
· Find out details about the problems
· Explore any difficulties / problems at home /
school
· Reassure the parents
· Try to inform / explain the parents about the
nature of the problems
· Refer the psychotic treatment center.
Dr C P Sedain
Neuropsychiatrist,Chitwan
Medical College
Hi, there. I am Tom Neil and I want to describe how life had been for my younger brother living with schizophrenia and how he had been permanently able to survive this debilitating disease via a naturopathic, herbal method.
ReplyDeleteMaicon - my kid brother was twenty years old when he was brought to the emergency room by the campus police of the college from which he had been suspended several months ago. A professor had called and reported that he had walked into his classroom, accused him of taking his tuition money, and refused to leave.
Although he had much academic success as a teenager, his behavior had become increasingly odd during the past year. He quit seeing his friends and no longer seemed to care about his appearance or social pursuits. He began wearing the same clothes each day and seldom bathed. He lived with several family members but rarely spoke to any of them. When he did talk to them, he said he had found clues that his college was just a front for an organized crime operation. He had been suspended from college because of missing many classes. My sister said that she had often seen him mumbling quietly to himself and at times he seemed to be talking to people who were not there. He would emerge from my room and ask my family to be quiet even when they were not making any noise.
My father and sister told the staff that Maicon's great-grandmother had had a serious illness and had lived for 30 years in a state hospital, which they believed was a mental hospital. Our mother left the family when Maicon was very young. She has been out of touch with us, and they thought she might have been treated for mental health problems.
Maicon agreed to sign himself into the psychiatric unit for treatment. The whole family except I had agreed to have Maicon transferred to a mental asylum. I knew inwardly there was still some plausible means by which my kid brother could overcome this condition. I knew botanical means of treatment will be more favorable than any other type of treatment, and as such, I had taken a keen interest in the research of naturopathic alternative measures suitable for the treatment of schizophrenia. I had pleaded for some little patience from the family in the delay of the transfer, I was looking forward to proving a point to the entire family, of a positive botanical remedy for this condition.
It was during my ceaseless search on the internet I had been fortunate enough to come across Dr. Utu Herbal Cure: an African herbalist and witch doctor whose professional works had majored on the eradication of certain viral conditions, especially schizophrenia, ( improving the memory capacity positively), via a traditional, naturopathic process and distinguished diet plan. It was by the administration of this herbal specialist that my brother had been able to improve his condition for better.
Before the naturopathic remedy - Maicon's story had reflected a common case, in which a high-functioning young adult goes through a major decline in day-to-day skills. Although family and friends may feel this is a loss of the person they knew, the illness can be treated and a good outcome is possible.
My brother Maicon is just like many other patients out there suffering from this disease. Although he was able to overcome this condition via a naturopathic herbal remedy administered by this African herbal physician and saved completely thus, rekindling the lost joy which had been experienced by the family members.
I wish to use this opportunity to reach across to anyone who may happen to be diagnosed with this disastrous condition to spread the hope of an everlasting herbal remedy that is capable of imposing a permanent end to this disease.
For more information concerning this naturopathic herbal remedy, feel free to contact this African herbal practitioner via email:
drutuherbalcure@gmail.com