Let's Talk Facts About . . . The natural instinct of parents is to protect their children, whose happiness and well-being is of paramount importance. Most people would consider childhood to be a happy, trouble-free time of life, so parents could almost be expected to blame themselves. But the causes of mental illnesses are complex and never due to any single factor.
Children do suffer from disorders once thought only to affect adults.
From 3 to 6 million children suffer from clinical depression. Presented here are an overview and the symptoms of mental illnesses that can be seen in children, as well as available treatments. Depression As many as one in 10 children between ages 6 and 12 experience persistent feelings of sadness - the hallmark of depression. Constant complaints of aching arms, legs, or stomach with no apparent cause Treatment is essential for children struggling with depression so that they can be free to develop necessary academic and social skills. During psychotherapy, children learn to express their feelings and to develop ways of coping with their illness.