Musings: We must pay attention to mental illness in children
Mental illness affects a person’s thinking, behavior or mood Credit: iStock
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It was established as Mental Health America in 1949, but I refer to it as “Brain Health Awareness Month.” This subject comes from my heart since May also celebrates Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental health is so important. I am grateful that dedicated organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) bring children’s mental health to the forefront.
This, though, is a time to turn awareness into action, and action into creating a strong, supportive foundation for children and adults of all ages.
Mental illness affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior or mood, according to NAMI. These conditions can deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others.
We need to help eradicate trauma-based shame and the false self-narratives that our subconscious, developing brain all too often takes on during our most formative years, shaping how we respond to our world as we “grow” forward. Research shows that generational trauma can also be proactively altered by providing safe, age-appropriate support for children so they can become more healed, thriving adults.
Mental illnesses are common in the United States, affecting tens of millions of people each year. Estimates suggest that only half with mental illnesses receive treatment. However, mental health conditions are far more common than one might think.
In the United States, according to NAMI, every year:
One in five adults experiences mental illness.
One in 20 adults experiences serious mental illness.
One in six youths 6 to 17 years old experiences a mental health disorder.
Half of all lifetime mental illness begin by age 14, and 75% begin by age 24.
Research suggests that genetics, environment, traumatic life events and lifestyle can influence whether someone develops a mental health condition. Biochemical processes and circuits and basic brain structure may also play a role. Therefore, brain illness, like any other organ-related illness, is no one’s fault.
— Donna Pisacano Brown, Point Lookout
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