A recently published report on children’s mental health highlights the continued public health concern of poor mental health among children and adolescents. The report analyzed data from a variety of sources to describe mental health and mental disorders in children during 2013–2019. The most common mental health diagnoses for US children include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety among children of all ages (approximately 9% for both), and symptoms related to depression among adolescents (approximately 20%).  There is limited data on positive indicators of mental health and more information is needed to better understand and support children’s mental health.

Findings:  

• Most prevalent disorders diagnosed among U.S. children and adolescents aged 3–17 years were attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety, each affecting approximately one in 11 (9.4%–9.8%) children.
• Among children and adolescents aged 12–17 years, one fifth had ever experienced a major depressive episode.
• Among high school students, 36.7% reported persistently feeling sad or hopeless in the past year; 18.8% had seriously considered attempting suicide.
• Approximately seven in 100,000 persons aged 10–19 years died by suicide in 2018 and 2019.
• Among children and adolescents aged 3–17 years, 9.6%–10.1% had received mental health services, and 7.8% of all children and adolescents aged 3–17 years had taken medication for mental health problems during the past year. 

Read the full report here to learn more.