Mental Health in Kids
- In 2013–14, an estimated 314,000 children aged 4–11 (almost 14%) experienced a mental disorder in the 12 months before the survey (Lawrence et al. 2015).
- Boys were more commonly affected than girls (17% compared with 11%).
- ADHD was the most common disorder for children (8.2%), and the most common among boys (11%)
- Anxiety disorders were the second most common disorders among all children (6.9%), and the most common among girls (6.1%)
In 2013–14, children living:
- in families with 2 parents or carers were less likely to have mental health disorders than children living in families with 1 parent or carer (12% compared with 22%)
- with their original families (with 2 parents or carers) were less likely to have mental health disorders than children living with blended families (11% compared with 21%).
- more common among children born in Australia (14%) compared with children born overseas (8.1%)
- It was also more common among children with both carers born in Australia (15%) compared with both carers born overseas (5.6%)
- young immigrants have also found fewer mental health problems reported by immigrant adolescents compared with non-immigrant adolescents
- Mental illness was also more common among children living in areas with the lowest socioeconomic areas (19%) compared with those living in the highest (12%)
- Children in households where parents had lower levels of education, lower household income, or were living in public housing also had higher proportions of mental disorders.
Signs of mental health problems in children
- Emotional and behaviour signs
- doesn’t seem to enjoy things the way they used to
- has repeated tantrums or consistently behaves in a defiant or aggressive way
- seems sad or unhappy, or cries a lot
- is afraid or worried a lot
- gets very upset about being separated from you, or avoids social situations
- starts behaving in ways that they’ve outgrown, like sucking their thumb or wetting the bed
- has trouble paying attention, can’t sit still or is restless.
- Physical signs
- isn’t sleeping well or oversleeps
- has difficulty getting out of bed
- has trouble eating or overeats
- has lost or gained a lot of weight
- has physical pain that doesn’t have a clear medical cause – for example, headaches, stomach aches, nausea or other physical pains.
- School and social signs
- isn’t doing as well as usual at school
- is having problems fitting in at school or getting along with other children
- doesn’t want to go to school
- isn’t doing what their teacher asks
- has withdrawn from their friends
- doesn’t want to go to social events like birthday parties or usual activities like sport.