Study shows one out of five children suffer from mental disorders

By Staff Writer

Experts from the National Institute of Mental Health have discovered that about 20 percent of youths suffer from at least one type of mental disorder in their lifetime, PsychCentral reports.

Furthermore, researchers said that 11 percent of children suffered from mood disorders like depression, while behavioral disorders, such as ADHD, were found in 10 percent of teens. Studies say that these conditions can start as early as 6 years old. About 40 percent of participants indicated that they suffer from an additional disorder.

Analysts said that children whose parents are divorced have a higher risk of developing anxiety and behavior and substance abuse disorders than those with parents who are married.

Results of the study show the importance of promoting early intervention for at-risk children and adolescents. Therapeutic boarding schools have been shown to help teens who have these conditions reach new levels of success academically, socially and behaviorally.

According to a study in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.