The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a report Thursday which stated that approximately 20 percent of children in the United States suffer from some form of mental disorder and this number has been steadily rising for the past decade.
One in every five children in the U.S. has been diagnosed with some kind of mental disorder, reports the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The report, which was released Thursday, also suggests that this number has risen to 20 percent over the last decade.
The agency conducted its first ever research on mental illnesses among children aged between 3 and 17 years of age and found that every year more than $247 billion is spent on their medical expenses, juvenile justice and special education.
"This is a deliberate effort by CDC to show mental health is a health issue. As with any health concern, the more attention we give to it, the better. It's parents becoming aware of the facts and talking to a healthcare provider about how their child is learning, behaving, and playing with other kids," Dr. Ruth Perou, the lead author of the study, told Reuters in an interview. "What's concerning is the number of families affected by these issues. But we can do something about this. Mental health problems are diagnosable, treatable and people can recover and lead full healthy lives."
According to Perou, more research still needs to be done to determine the cause of mental illness among children. She adds that greater awareness could help in better diagnosis. She also states that certain factors like poverty and exposure to chemicals in the environment could lead to children being affected with mental disorders.
