Mental Health Disorders Increasing Among US Children - East Idaho News

Mental Health Disorders Increasing Among US Children

  Published at

GETTY H 030811 SadDepressedYouthTeen?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1368891050141Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Over the past ten years, the rate of mental health disorders in American children has been rising, according to a new study.

Between 13 and 20 percent of children have experienced a mental disorder, says the study, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Those figures were based on surveillance data from a number of federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control, gathered between 1994 and 2011.

The data from 2010 showed that the second leading cause of death among children between the ages of 12 and 17 was suicide. Additionally, mood disorders were the most frequent diagnosis for hospitalized children in the United States.

Among the most prevalent mental disorders in American children were ADHD, behavioral or conduct problems, anxiety and depression.

The CDC concluded that comprehensive surveillance is needed to prevent mental disorders and promote mental health for children.

Statistics from 2010 showed that children were hospitalized for mental disorders at a rate of 17 hospital stays per 10,000 population, up 80 percent from 1997.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION