ADDITIONAL DISORDERS WITH SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT OPTIONS AND WARNING SIGNS WILL BE POSTED IN THE FUTURE. FOR INFORMATION ON A TOPIC OR DISORDER NOT DISCUSSED ON THIS SITE PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION OR SCHEDULE A CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION REGARDING YOUR CONCERN. CALL Optima Specialty Hospital 337-991-0571 |
| For a Consultation Toll Free: 866-350-0571 Telephone: 337-991-0571 |
Youth And Mental Illness
Unfortunately there are several different types and degrees of mental illness
that are commonly seen in children and adolescence. These illnesses
generally have a significant effect on the individuals daily living, inter-reaction
with their families and authority figures. The information provided below is a
general statement and may not apply to your particular situation. It is always
recommended, that if you suspect a mental illness in a loved one, to contact a
mental health professional for a specific diagnosis and treatment.
THE MOST COMMON EXHIBITED IN OLDER CHILDREN
AND ADOLESCENTS:
Adolescents and depression:
Many teens feel down and blue at times,
but for some these feelings do not seem
to go away. The symptoms can be there
day and night and life can become a chore. These teens may not realize that
what they are experiencing are symptoms of a potentially treatable disease.
Adolescents and suicide:
Suicidal thinking and behaviour often go hand in hand with depression in
adolescence. Suicide is the second most common killer of Canadian teens.
While some suicidal behaviour may be impulsive, any mention of suicidal
thoughts and actions should be taken seriously.
Adolescents and anxiety:
Many physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, stomach aches, racing heart) can
be associated with anxiety in adolescents. Feelings of fear and dread can
become so intense that they keep you from going to school, from being in a
group, and from many activities that would not be a problem otherwise. Anxiety
can be tied to a past trauma (e.g., car accident, incident of abuse), or an
identifiable source (e.g., snakes, heights).
Adolescents and risk-taking behaviour:
Accidents represent the number one cause of death in Canadian teens and
are often caused by different types of risk-taking behaviour. Risk taking is a
broad category of behaviours that includes among others: alcohol and
substance abuse, unprotected sex, thrill seeking, and delinquent behaviours.
Such behaviours can be a sign of various mental illnesses and can result in
some of the real tragedies of adolescence. As well, if a person engages in one
risk-taking behaviour they are likely to engage in more than one.
Adolescents and eating disorders:
Two psychiatric eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are on the
increase among Canadian teenage girls. They also occur in boys but much
less often. Both disorders are characterized by a preoccupation with food, and
a feeling of lack of control over aspects of one's life. The teenager with
anorexia nervosa is often perfectionistic but suffers from low self-esteem and
an irrational belief of being overweight, regardless of how thin he or she
becomes. Teenagers with bulimia binge on huge quantities of food and then
purge their bodies of dreaded calories by self-induced vomiting, laxative use,
or excessive exercising.
Eating disorders can be fatal, and Adolescents with these disorders are
typically very good at hiding the problem. Denying the presence of their
problem delays much needed help.
Adolescents and conduct disorders:
Conduct disorders are a complicated group of behavioural and emotional
problems in adolescence. Teens with these problems have great difficulty
following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. The major problem
is one of anger. They are often aggressive to peers and adults, and may lie,
steal, destroy property or be sexually inappropriate.
Risk-taking behaviours are common in people with conduct disorders,
including suicidal behaviour. They frequently have other contributing problems
including school failure and negative family and social experiences. Conduct
disorders can occur alongside adolescent depression and attention deficit
disorder.
Mental Illness Is A Family Affair
Many of the major psychiatric illnesses commonly seen in adults surface
during adolescence. Although not directly linked, there is a strong
predisposition for mental illness within families. Some families function in such
ways as to trigger mental illness within its members, especially those more
vulnerable members. Family awareness, early identification and prevention
are often the first steps to effective treatments. Relatives can play a key role
in the identification and treatment of the teen with a mental illness, with family
members themselves often needing help and support.
Don't Ignore The Signs
Parents, teachers, and friends are usually the first to recognize that an
adolescent may be having significant problems . The following are a few signs
to look for that may indicate that a psychiatric evaluation would be useful.
marked drop in school performance or increase in absenteeism
excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs
marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
many physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches)
consistent aggressive or non-aggressive violations of rights of others:
opposition to authority, skipping school, thefts, vandalism, etc.
withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
depression shown by continued, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often
accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death
frequent outbursts of anger and rage
low energy level, poor concentration, complaints of boredom
loss of enjoyment in what used to be favourite activities
unusual neglect of personal appearance
intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight
uncharacteristic delinquent, thrill seeking or promiscuous behaviour
marked personality change comments about feeling rotten inside, wanting to
end things, and soon no longer being a problem for others.
What Does "Help For Mental Illness" Include
The cornerstone of successful help for a mental illness is a comprehensive
assessment by a child or adolescent psychiatrist, and/or other qualified
professionals who coordinate information from parents educator. and other
relevant sources.
Treatment can include psychotherapy (individual, family, group), skills
programs (learning, social skills, behaviour), and psychiatric medication, and
be provided in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, or day treatment settings,
including special schools, residential placements, hospitals, private offices, or
community clinics.
Effective treatments depend upon the strong partnership between patient,
family and professionals.
Where To Go For Help
Research shows that a teen is most likely to tell a friend about concerns that
they have regarding symptoms of a mental illness. Unfortunately, that friend
may be a great listener but may not be the best person to provide help. You
can be a better friend by looking for signs and symptoms of mental illnesses
and then discussing the illness with a mental health professional.
Unfortunately there are several different types and degrees of mental illness
that are commonly seen in children and adolescence. These illnesses
generally have a significant effect on the individuals daily living, inter-reaction
with their families and authority figures. The information provided below is a
general statement and may not apply to your particular situation. It is always
recommended, that if you suspect a mental illness in a loved one, to contact a
mental health professional for a specific diagnosis and treatment.
THE MOST COMMON EXHIBITED IN OLDER CHILDREN
AND ADOLESCENTS:
Adolescents and depression:
Many teens feel down and blue at times,
but for some these feelings do not seem
to go away. The symptoms can be there
day and night and life can become a chore. These teens may not realize that
what they are experiencing are symptoms of a potentially treatable disease.
Adolescents and suicide:
Suicidal thinking and behaviour often go hand in hand with depression in
adolescence. Suicide is the second most common killer of Canadian teens.
While some suicidal behaviour may be impulsive, any mention of suicidal
thoughts and actions should be taken seriously.
Adolescents and anxiety:
Many physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, stomach aches, racing heart) can
be associated with anxiety in adolescents. Feelings of fear and dread can
become so intense that they keep you from going to school, from being in a
group, and from many activities that would not be a problem otherwise. Anxiety
can be tied to a past trauma (e.g., car accident, incident of abuse), or an
identifiable source (e.g., snakes, heights).
Adolescents and risk-taking behaviour:
Accidents represent the number one cause of death in Canadian teens and
are often caused by different types of risk-taking behaviour. Risk taking is a
broad category of behaviours that includes among others: alcohol and
substance abuse, unprotected sex, thrill seeking, and delinquent behaviours.
Such behaviours can be a sign of various mental illnesses and can result in
some of the real tragedies of adolescence. As well, if a person engages in one
risk-taking behaviour they are likely to engage in more than one.
Adolescents and eating disorders:
Two psychiatric eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are on the
increase among Canadian teenage girls. They also occur in boys but much
less often. Both disorders are characterized by a preoccupation with food, and
a feeling of lack of control over aspects of one's life. The teenager with
anorexia nervosa is often perfectionistic but suffers from low self-esteem and
an irrational belief of being overweight, regardless of how thin he or she
becomes. Teenagers with bulimia binge on huge quantities of food and then
purge their bodies of dreaded calories by self-induced vomiting, laxative use,
or excessive exercising.
Eating disorders can be fatal, and Adolescents with these disorders are
typically very good at hiding the problem. Denying the presence of their
problem delays much needed help.
Adolescents and conduct disorders:
Conduct disorders are a complicated group of behavioural and emotional
problems in adolescence. Teens with these problems have great difficulty
following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. The major problem
is one of anger. They are often aggressive to peers and adults, and may lie,
steal, destroy property or be sexually inappropriate.
Risk-taking behaviours are common in people with conduct disorders,
including suicidal behaviour. They frequently have other contributing problems
including school failure and negative family and social experiences. Conduct
disorders can occur alongside adolescent depression and attention deficit
disorder.
Mental Illness Is A Family Affair
Many of the major psychiatric illnesses commonly seen in adults surface
during adolescence. Although not directly linked, there is a strong
predisposition for mental illness within families. Some families function in such
ways as to trigger mental illness within its members, especially those more
vulnerable members. Family awareness, early identification and prevention
are often the first steps to effective treatments. Relatives can play a key role
in the identification and treatment of the teen with a mental illness, with family
members themselves often needing help and support.
Don't Ignore The Signs
Parents, teachers, and friends are usually the first to recognize that an
adolescent may be having significant problems . The following are a few signs
to look for that may indicate that a psychiatric evaluation would be useful.
marked drop in school performance or increase in absenteeism
excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs
marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
many physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches)
consistent aggressive or non-aggressive violations of rights of others:
opposition to authority, skipping school, thefts, vandalism, etc.
withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
depression shown by continued, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often
accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death
frequent outbursts of anger and rage
low energy level, poor concentration, complaints of boredom
loss of enjoyment in what used to be favourite activities
unusual neglect of personal appearance
intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight
uncharacteristic delinquent, thrill seeking or promiscuous behaviour
marked personality change comments about feeling rotten inside, wanting to
end things, and soon no longer being a problem for others.
What Does "Help For Mental Illness" Include
The cornerstone of successful help for a mental illness is a comprehensive
assessment by a child or adolescent psychiatrist, and/or other qualified
professionals who coordinate information from parents educator. and other
relevant sources.
Treatment can include psychotherapy (individual, family, group), skills
programs (learning, social skills, behaviour), and psychiatric medication, and
be provided in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, or day treatment settings,
including special schools, residential placements, hospitals, private offices, or
community clinics.
Effective treatments depend upon the strong partnership between patient,
family and professionals.
Where To Go For Help
Research shows that a teen is most likely to tell a friend about concerns that
they have regarding symptoms of a mental illness. Unfortunately, that friend
may be a great listener but may not be the best person to provide help. You
can be a better friend by looking for signs and symptoms of mental illnesses
and then discussing the illness with a mental health professional.
Optima
SPECIALTY HOSPITAL
SPECIALTY HOSPITAL
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| Striving to Reach The Highest Level of Independence, Self-esteem and Emotional Stability |
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| ADOLESCENCE |
| OPTIMA SPECIALITY HOSPITAL INTEGRITY OSH CARING OPTIMA RESULTS OSH DISCIPLINED OPTIMA GERIATRIC OSH QUALITY OPTIMA SPECIALTY HOSPITAL |
| Integrity of Care and Dignity of Purpose |