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Children with Severe Emotional Disturbance
Like adults, children and adolescents can have mental health disorders that interfere with the way they think, feel, and act. When untreated, mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental health disorders can be very costly to families, communities, and the health care system. (Use Michigan.gov's self-screening tool to see if you might qualify for Medicaid or other assistance.)
A serious emotional disturbance means a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that severely disrupts a child or adolescents ability to function socially, academically, and emotionally, at home, in school, or in the community, and has been apparent for more than a six month period.
Studies show that at least one in five children and adolescents have a mental health disorder. At least one in 10, or about 6 million people, have a serious emotional disturbance. ( U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville , MD : U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)
According to SAMHSA, mental health disorders in children and adolescents are caused mostly by biology and environment. Examples of biological causes are genetics, chemical imbalances in the body, or damage to the central nervous system, such as a head injury. Many environmental factors also put young people at risk for developing mental health disorders. Examples include:
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