This guide will help you answer 4.1. Outline a range of other mental health conditions that may present in children and young people.
As an Early Years Practitioner, it’s vital to be familiar with various mental health conditions that may present in children and young people. This knowledge will help you identify and address these issues effectively. Mental health in children is a critical aspect of their overall well-being. Recognising and understanding these conditions early can make a significant difference in their lives.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are common in children and young people. These disorders involve excessive fear or anxiety that interferes with daily activities.
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): This condition is characterised by chronic and excessive worry about different aspects of life such as school, friends, or family. Children with GAD often seek constant reassurance.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: This involves an intense fear of social situations where the child fears being judged or embarrassed. They may avoid social interactions, struggle with making friends, and experience physical symptoms like sweating or trembling.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: Typically affects younger children who have significant distress about being separated from their parents or caregivers. This can interfere with daily activities and normal development.
Depression
Depression in children can manifest differently than in adults. This condition involves persistent sadness, irritability, and a lack of interest in activities.
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Children with MDD show a depressed mood most of the day and a noticeable decrease in interest in almost all activities. Symptoms can include changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and feelings of worthlessness.
- Dysthymia: Also known as Persistent Depressive Disorder, this is a chronic form of depression lasting for at least a year in children. The symptoms are less severe than MDD but can still impair day-to-day functioning.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a behavioural disorder that includes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.
- Inattentive Type: Children with this type struggle with staying focused, following instructions, and finishing tasks. They may frequently daydream and be forgetful.
- Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: These children display excessive fidgeting, an inability to sit still, and a tendency to act without thinking.
- Combined Type: This is the most common type and involves a combination of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsiveness.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ASD is a developmental disorder affecting communication and behaviour.
- Social Communication Challenges: Children with ASD often struggle with understanding social cues, making eye contact, and engaging in back-and-forth conversations.
- Repetitive Behaviours and Restricted Interests: They may exhibit repetitive movements, and insist on routines, and have intense fixations on specific interests.
- Sensory Sensitivities: Often, children with ASD are either overly sensitive or under-sensitive to sensory input like sounds, lights, and textures.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterised by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions).
- Obsessions: These can include fears of contamination, symmetry, or harm. The child may experience intrusive thoughts that cause significant anxiety.
- Compulsions: In response to the obsessions, the child engages in repetitive behaviours such as excessive hand washing, checking, or counting. These behaviours are performed to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessions.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop after a child experiences or witnesses a traumatic event.
- Re-experiencing Symptoms: This includes flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories of the traumatic event.
- Avoidance: The child may avoid places, people, or activities that remind them of the trauma.
- Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms: These can include being easily startled, feeling tense, or having outbursts of anger.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape.
- Anorexia Nervosa: Characterised by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to restrictive eating and excessive weight loss.
- Bulimia Nervosa: Involves episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
- Binge-Eating Disorder: This is similar to bulimia but without the compensatory behaviours. The child may eat large amounts of food in a short period and feel a lack of control over eating.
Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is characterised by a pattern of aggressive behaviour and violations of rules and social norms.
- Aggressive Behaviour: This can include bullying, physical fights, and cruelty to animals or people.
- Deceitfulness or Theft: Children may lie, steal, or break into others’ property.
- Serious Rule Violations: Truancy from school, running away from home, or staying out at night despite parental prohibitions.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder involves extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
- Manic Episodes: During these episodes, the child may feel extremely happy, energetic, or irritable. They might exhibit risky behaviour, have inflated self-esteem, and require less sleep.
- Depressive Episodes: These are similar to the symptoms of major depression, including persistent sadness, fatigue, and loss of interest.
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
RAD is a condition found in children who have not formed a healthy emotional attachment with their primary caregivers due to severe early neglect or frequent changes in caregivers.
- Emotionally Withdrawn/Inhibited Type: The child shows little to no emotional response to caregivers, prefers being alone, and lacks interest in social interactions.
- Indiscriminately Social/Disinhibited Type: The child may exhibit inappropriate familiarity with strangers and lack proper social boundaries.
Conclusion
Understanding the range of mental health conditions that can affect children and young people is crucial for providing appropriate care and support. Early identification and intervention can lead to better outcomes and a healthier future for these children. Always observe and communicate with children, offering a supportive environment where they feel safe to express themselves. If you suspect a mental health issue, seek guidance from a specialist to ensure the child receives the appropriate help they need.
