Last week, I introduced the topic, Mental Health in children and how a mental illness is a condition that not only affects adults but a lot of children as well. This week, I will be going through the causes and types of Mental Illnesses. Having a good knowledge of this can help you watch out for signs not only in your children, but those of your friends and loved ones.
SOME CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
Mental illness is caused by a number of factors:
1. It could be hereditary, which means it runs in the family
2. It could be biological, that is caused as a result of malfunctioning of the brain
3. Psychological : – set off by inexorable abuse of different forms ( sexual, physical,emotional , neglect and family violence) and death of loved ones
4. It could also be caused by environmental stress such as war and displacement, bullying, isolation, parental divorce to mention just a few.
Childhood bullying can have lasting effects on the mental health of a child. Livescience.
It is important we understand these causes to give us a better understanding on how to tackle the problem.
MOST COMMON TYPES OF CHILDHOOD/ TEENAGE MENTAL ILLNESS
- Anxiety : is a general term used for disorders that cause nervousness, fear and worry. Panic attacks is characterized by a feeling of sudden and intense anxiety
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) : this is a group of behavioral symptoms that include inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school .
- Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD): ASD is a condition that affects social interaction, communication, interests and behavior. It’s estimated that about 1 in every 100 people in the UK has ASD. More boys are diagnosed with the condition than girls. NHS
- Bipolar Autism spectrum disorder: this is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning. – Mayo clinic
- Depression: is a mood disorder causing persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things generally.
“Do you think your child might be depressed? Or has your child been diagnosed with depression? You need to know what to do next and how to find the best support. You can contact the YoungMinds Parents’ Helpline for free. You can call, email or chat to them online – whatever suits you best.”
- Eating disorder ( Anorexia and Bulimia ) : this is a behavior or habit that causes young adults or teenagers especially, to change their eating habits.
- Substance abuse: also known as Drug Abuse, is a patterned use of a drug or other substance, in which the user consumes it in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others. Wikipedia
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Schizophrenia : Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.
- Self harm: Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. It’s usually a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. NHS
I hope I have been able to bring more light to the types and causes of Mental Illness. Don’t ignore the signs and it is extremely important you seek help immediately. Don’t wait until it is too late. I look forward to writing more on this topic next week, and until then, have a great week with the children.
Love, Bose