HUS 219 Community
Mental Health
WEEK 6
Milestones
Milestones for Infants Milestones for Children
Smile at the sound of a familiar voice Cooperate with other children
Enjoy social play Participate in fantasy play
Respond to other people’s expressions of
emotion Become more like their friends
Recognize emotions through tones Show more independence
Cry in the absence of their parent or guardian Have a stronger sense of right and wrong
Imitate behaviors of others Give more attention to friendships and
Begin to have favorite toys teamwork
Become more excited around other children Peer pressure becomes stronger
Express affection more openly
Milestones
Milestones for Adolescents
Greater focus on self
Increased moodiness
Become more interested and influenced by peer groups
Better able to express their feelings through talking
Increase independence from parents
Develop a deeper capacity for caring and sharing
Determinants of Mental Health for Infants,
Children, and Adolescents
Gender and sex Sleep and sleep patterns
Parenting Socioeconomic factors
Friendships Obesity
Play
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)
Currently, 9.5% of children between the ages of 4 and 17 years have been diagnosed
with ADHD.
“A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with
functioning or development” that is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity
(DSM-5).
Predominantly inattentive presentation
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation
Combined presentation
Autism
The definition and classification of autism has changed in the past
decade.
According to the DSM-5, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now defined as
“persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple
contexts.”
Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity
Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Feeding and eating disorders include a variety of
behaviors that lead to abnormal eating behaviors.
Pica, rumination disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake
disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating
disorder, otherwise specified feeding or eating disorder, and
unspecified feeding or eating disorder
The most common eating disorders are anorexia
nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Conduct Disorder
“A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of
others or major age-appropriate societal norms or rules are violated, as
manifested by the presence of at least three of the following 15 criteria in
the past 12 months from any of the categories below, with at least one
criterion present in the past 6 months:” (DSM-5)
Aggression to people and animals
Destruction of property
Deceitfulness or theft
Makes false statements to make gains or avoid obligations
Taken items of significant value without confronting others
Serious violations of rules
Oppositional Defiant Disorders
The most common reasons for referral of children and adolescents to
outpatient mental health clinics and residential treatment centers
“Pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or
vindictiveness lasting at least 6 months as evidenced by at least four
symptoms from any of the following categories, and exhibited during
interaction with at least one individual who is not a sibling.” (DSM-5)
Losing temper
Arguing with adults
Actively defying or refusing to comply with requests/rules
Deliberately doing things that will annoy other people
Blaming others for his or her own mistakes or misbehavior
Being touchy or easily annoyed by others
Being angry and resentful
Being spiteful or vindictive
Youth Issues: Violence and Bullying
Bullying has three major elements:
1. It involves a behavior that is deliberate or is aggressive towards
an individual (usually peers).
2. The behavior is repeated over time.
3. It involves a power imbalance (i.e., the bully is physically
stronger than the victim, or has more friends/social capital than
the victim).
A bullying behavior can either be direct-physical (i.e.,
assault), direct-verbal (i.e., making a threat/insult), indirect-
relational (i.e., spreading rumors), or cyberbullying (i.e., using
electronic means to spread rumors, or make threats/insults).
Youth Issues: Suicide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth.
Public health strategies that have been proposed by the National
Center for Injury Prevention and Control:
Strengthen Economic Supports
Strengthen Access and Delivery of Suicide Care
Create Protective Environments
Promote Connectedness
Teaching Coping and Problem-Solving Skills
Identify and Support People at Risk
Lessen Harms and Prevent Future Risks
Youth Issues: Violence and Bullying
Violence affects all youth to some extent; however, some groups are more
vulnerable.
Four distinct types of risk factors can increase the chances that youth will be
involved with violence:
Individual risk factors include having a history of victimization or of ADHD or other
learning disorders.
Family risk factors include parents who use authoritarian parenting styles,
disengaged or uninterested parents, and living in poverty.
Peer/social risk factors include having delinquent friends, gang involvement, and
social rejection by peers.
Community risk factors include living in low SES areas, low levels of community
participation, and living in socially disorganized neighborhoods.
