Mental health in childhood includes reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when problems arise. Children who experience good well-being and mental health have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, with peers, and in their communities.
Mental health is not simply the absence of a mental health condition—it is also about a child’s well-being and ability to thrive.
- Many factors influence a child’s well-being and ability to thrive, such as family and community relationships, access to opportunities, and environmental circumstances.
- Children can experience positive well-being even if they are living with a mental health condition. There may be many reasons for this, including access to effective treatment that helps manage symptoms along with safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments in a child’s life.
- Children who don’t have a mental health condition may still experience challenges to their mental health, including their development and ability to cope with everyday stressors and toxic stressors.
Childhood and adolescence are critical stages of life for mental health. This is a time of rapid growth and brain development.
- Healthy development means that children of all abilities, including those with special health care needs, can grow up in a home where their social, emotional, and educational needs are met.
- Young people are rapidly learning social-emotional skills that shape their future ability to learn, grow, and adapt to different situations in life.
The quality of the relationships and environments where children and adolescents grow up shapes their well-being and development.
- Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments provide a strong foundation for children’s mental and physical health and opportunity to grow and thrive.
- Early adverse experiences in homes, schools, or digital spaces—including experiencing or witnessing violence, living with a parent or other caregiver with substance use or a mental health condition, and not having sufficient or stable housing or food—increase the risk of mental health problems.
Symptoms
Childhood mental health conditions
Many children occasionally experience fears and worries or display disruptive behaviors. If symptoms are severe and persistent and interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Mental health is not simply the absence of a mental health condition—it is also about a child’s well-being and ability to thrive.
Symptoms of mental health conditions change over time as a child grows and may include difficulties with how the child feels, the child’s ability to handle emotions, and how the child plays, learns, speaks, and acts. Symptoms for some conditions can start in early childhood, while other do not begin to develop until a bit later in childhood or during the teenage years.
Testing and diagnosis
Some families may seek care for their children for their mental health concerns, and those children may be diagnosed with a mental health disorder by a health care professional.
- Many mental health disorders are chronic health conditions—conditions that last a long time and often don’t go away completely. They can continue through the lifespan.
- Some conditions may respond quickly to treatment by a trained health care professional and may not recur.
- Without early diagnosis and treatment, children with mental health conditions can have problems at home, in school, and in forming friendships.
- Mental health conditions can also interfere with a child’s healthy development, causing problems that can continue into adulthood.
Diagnosis is often made in the school years but can sometimes be earlier, depending on the condition. However, some children with a mental health condition may not be recognized or diagnosed as having one.
Types of mental health conditions
Among the more common mental health conditions that can be diagnosed in childhood are anxiety disorders (fears or worries), depressive disorders, and behavior disorders. Health care and mental health professionals use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual[1] to help diagnose mental health conditions in children.
Click on these links to learn more about selected conditions:
Anxiety and Depression in Children
Behavior or Conduct Problems in Children
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
Mental health conditions affect many children and their families. Boys and girls of all ages and ethnic/racial backgrounds living in all regions of the United States experience mental health conditions.
These conditions can occur alongside others, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and Tourette Syndrome. See below to learn more:
About Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
About Autism Spectrum Disorder
Symptom management
Good physical and mental health is important for all children and can be especially important for children living with mental health conditions. In addition to receiving necessary treatment, practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors may reduce the symptoms your child might experience. Here are some healthy behaviors that may help:
- Engaging in regular physical activity, including aerobic and vigorous exercise
- Eating a healthful diet centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (for example, beans, peas, and lentils), lean protein sources, and nuts and seeds
- Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night based on age
- Strengthening relationships with family members, friends, and the community
Treatment and recovery
Childhood mental health conditions can be treated and managed. Many treatment options are based on the best and most current medical evidence.
Check out our podcast to learn how parents and caregivers can promote positive mental health outcomes during puberty as well as understanding the potential challenges their children may face and recognize signs of distress and offer help .
Parents and doctors should work closely with everyone involved in the child’s treatment—teachers, coaches, therapists, and other family members. Taking advantage of all available resources will help parents, health professionals, and educators guide the child toward success.
Early diagnosis and access to services for children and their families can make a difference in the lives of children with mental health conditions.
Get help finding treatment
If you have concerns about a child’s mental health, you can use these resources to help you find a healthcare provider familiar with treatment options.
Pediatricians and other healthcare professionals who interact regularly with children can help support children’s mental health and work with families to identify when specialist care is needed for diagnosis and treatment. To find a pediatrician near you, visit HealthyChildren.org, a service of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) practice organization.
Families can also seek out referrals for a mental health provider through multiple avenues, including the child’s school, primary care provider, or health insurance. They can also ask for advice from trusted family or friends who may have some experience with providers in the local area.
If you need insurance coverage, learn more about enrolling in Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or a Marketplace plan at HealthCare.gov. If your child does not qualify for insurance coverage, you can get low-cost health care at a nearby community health center.
Mental health specialists:
- Psychologist Locator, a service of the American Psychological Association (APA) Practice Organization.
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder, a research tool by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP).
- Find a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, a search tool by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
- If you need help finding treatment facilities, visit FindTreatment.gov.
What CDC is doing
Public health includes mental health
Supporting children’s mental health also includes:
- Making sure children meet developmental milestones.
- Understanding what to do when there is a concern.
- Supporting positive parenting strategies.
- Ensuring children have safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments.
- Improving access to care.
CDC works with partner agencies to better understand mental health and mental health conditions and their impact on children. CDC and its partners provide information and resources on supporting children throughout healthy development to ensure they can thrive and grow. Learn more about CDC’s role in addressing mental health.
What you can do
Parents: You know your child best. Talk to your child’s health care professional or a teacher if you have concerns about how your child behaves at home, in school, or with friends.
Youth: Mental health is just as important as physical health. If you are angry, worried, or sad, don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings and reach out to a trusted friend or adult.
Health care professionals: Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment based on updated guidelines are very important. There are resources available to help diagnose and treat children’s mental health conditions. Keep up to date with screening recommendations for anxiety and depression.
Teachers/school administrators: Early identification is important so that children can get the help they need. Work with families and healthcare professionals if you have concerns about the mental health of a child in your school. See CDC’s mental health action guide for school and district leaders to learn more about supporting mental health in schools.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |About Children’s Mental Health, https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/basics.html | Public domain. Last reviewed: October 2024
