U.S. parents seek assistance from a health care professional or school employee regarding emotional and behavorial issues for 14.5% of children ages 4 to 17, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report has found.
U.S. parents seek assistance from a health care provider or school employee regarding emotional and behavorial issues for 14.5% of children ages 4 to 17, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report has found.
Using data from 17,157 children for the 2005-2006 National Health Interview Survey, researchers at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics also learned that nearly 18% of boys and 11% of girls surveyed had parents who asked about mental health issues. In addition, roughly 5% of children surveyed were prescribed medication for difficulties with emotions or behavior, and 89% of children were prescribed medication for problems with concentration, hyperactivity, or impulsivity.
Furthermore, approximately 5% of children received "treatment other than medication" for emotional or behavioral problems. Sixty percent of this subgroup of children received this treatment from a mental health private practice, clinic, or center.
The investigators concluded that their report indicates a need for increased access to more mental health service options for children and adolescents, including medication and non-medication therapies.
The full CDC report can be accessed here.
Comparison of teen- and parent-reported estimates of social and emotional support, 2021 to 2022
July 23rd 2024The investigative team noted that teenagers with emotional and social support are better off to handle stressors such as biological and social transition, and are less likely to experience a variety of adverse physical and mental health outcomes.