Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which the individual is aware of their own abilities, can face the normal tensions of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to their community. Today, October 10, World Mental Health Day is celebrated.
This date aims to raise public awareness about mental health problems. Its celebration contributes to fostering a more open debate about mental disorders and promoting investment in prevention, awareness and treatment services.
In the blog we have claimed a better attention to children for their mental health, and in previous editions of this celebration attention has been paid to the psychic health of children. Next we will see some data on child mental health in the world.
About half of mental disorders manifest before age 14.
It is estimated that approximately 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems, and similar types of disorders are observed in all cultures.
However, the regions with the highest percentages of the population under the age of 19 are those with the least mental health resources. Most low and middle income countries have only one child psychiatrist for every million to four million people.
Only one in five children and adolescents suffering from a disabling illness receives the treatment it needs. These alarming data on the mental health of children have motivated us to continually be alerted to the need for some principles of action for the care of the mental health of childhood and adolescence.
The global situation, both in developed and developing countries, reflects a lack of policies to address the population with emotional and behavioral disorders in children, adolescents and adults.
The lack of treatment of mental and neurological disorders, and those related to substance use is enormous, especially in countries with scarce resources. Most of these countries dedicate less than two percent of their health budget to mental health.
This year's motto for World Mental Health Day it is "Let's invest in mental health", which aims to highlight that the economic and human resources allocated to mental health are insufficient, and proposes to increase investment in mental health and direct available resources towards more effective and humanitarian services, also for Children and teenagers with problems.
Official Site | WFMH, WHO On Babies and more | 70% of psychiatric diseases in adults have their origin in childhood or adolescence, go to the child psychologist, child depression: family and environmental risk factors
