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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Most of these will develop in adolescence and are the result of the young person’s
negative belief about themselves and their body image, shape and weight. For some
young people, the worries about their body image and weight become an obsession
leading to the eating disorder. Eating disorders have a major impact on the young
person’s physical and mental health.

Although there is no single cause known, as was found to be the case with depression,
a mixture of factors is likely to be involved, including social, psychological, biological
and interpersonal causes.

Often, even though they begin in adolescence, these disorders are not identified until
adulthood, although the earlier any treatment begins, the better the likely outcome.
They are often long-term conditions that are reinforced by social isolation, anxiety
and depression.

Eating disorders are more common in girls but they do also occur in boys.

Conduct Disorder

All children can behave badly at times as they go through the phases of growing
up, challenging authority and pushing boundaries, and having temper tantrums or
outbursts of destructive behaviour.

If this type of behaviour continues for several months, however, and is obviously much
more than ordinary rebelliousness and mischief, it can be much more of a problem,
interfering with their ability to lead a normal life. This is referred to as conduct disorder.

Conduct disorder may result in the young person getting involved in physical
violence (fights), breaking the law, staying out at night and playing truant from
school. Teenagers may also become involved with more risk-taking behaviours
such as substance misuse and unprotected sex.

The disorder can cause distress to the children and their families as well as to the
school and local community.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD in children and young people can be the result of experiencing a traumatic
event such as:

• Natural disasters – e.g. floods, fires

• Accidents – e.g. car crashes, accidents in the home

• War

• Death – e.g. suicide, bereavements

• Violence on the streets and in the neighbourhood where the person lives

• Abuse – e.g. sexual, physical.

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