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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health
For some mental health conditions, a person can only be diagnosed by a psychiatrist
after a full psychiatric assessment. An example of this is for bipolar disorder, where
a person usually has to show particular symptoms over a period of time to receive
a diagnosis.
In some cases, an internationally used classification of diseases is used as a guideline
for doctors when they are looking for symptoms that will indicate a particular mental
health condition. The guideline for depression for example is ICD -10, and the doctor
will look for the symptoms listed in this guidance when diagnosing depression.
R Further Research: Classifications
The full version of this guidance can be found by visiting the link
below. Make notes in the space below.
www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/bluebook.pdf
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is diagnosed only when the person has
been showing symptoms for more than a month and feels less able to carry out
everyday activities.
Why are diagnosis and support important?
Effective support that is of the right kind and given at the right time is vital if children
and young people are to be able to:
• Receive the appropriate support and treatment for their condition in a
timely way
• Overcome the negative experiences that have caused their mental ill health.
If children and young people are experiencing difficulties, they should not have to
wait until these become really serious before getting help, and that help should
not be embarrassing or difficult to ask for.
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