For the past ten years, in what could be America's most sensitive health topic to date, a report has disclosed that the number of mental health cases among children in the world's freest economy is rising.

According to a report released on Thursday by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 20 per cent of children aged 3 to 17 years in the United States suffer from a mental disorder, with the number of kids diagnosed as having a disorder growing for more than a decade.

Essentially, one in every five children living in the U.S. have mental disorders.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the most prevalent diagnosis, found present in 6.8 per cent of children between 3 and 17.

The rest were behavioural or conduct problems, 3.5 per cent; anxiety, 3 per cent; depression, 2.1 per cent; and autism spectrum disorders, 1.1 per cent.

It was also found that 4.7 per cent of kids between 12 and 17 had an illicit drug-use disorder in the past year, while 4.2 per cent had an illicit alcohol use disorder.

Children with mental disorders often experience making friends, trouble learning in school, and building relationships later in life, the report said. And if untreated, could lead to death.

According to the report, suicide, which "can result from the interaction of mental disorders and other factors," was the second leading cause of death among children between 12 and 17 in 2010.

"This is a deliberate effort by CDC to show mental health is a health issue. As with any health concern, the more attention we give to it, the better. It's parents becoming aware of the facts and talking to a healthcare provider about how their child is learning, behaving, and playing with other kids," Dr. Ruth Perou, the lead author of the study, told Reuters.

Those who were able to struggle out their mental illnesses later on suffer chronic health problems, such as asthma and diabetes. Worse, they are still risk for developing mental illnesses as adults.

The good news is, mental illness is curable and the person afflicted can rise above the challenge.

"What's concerning is the number of families affected by these issues. But we can do something about this. Mental health problems are diagnosable, treatable and people can recover and lead full healthy lives," Dr Perou said.

Among others, the following may help a parent spot a mental illness in their child:

  • Seems unable to cope with suddenly overwhelming feelings
  • Cries often
  • Asks or hints for help
  • Appears preoccupied, tense, worried, anxious, sometimes exhibiting sudden phobias
  • Fears seem unreasonable and may interfere with schoolwork and daily living
  • Has difficulty concentrating on daily tasks
  • School performance declines
  • Teachers and other authority figures may inquire if something may be troubling your child
  • Can't master schoolwork
  • Teachers suggest the possibility of a learning disability
  • Loses interest in play
  • Exhibits various forms of self-stimulation such as thumb sucking or masturbation
  • Has little or no social interaction with peers
  • Is fighting
  • Begins to earn comments like: "this is an angry or disruptive child."
  • Prefers to be alone
  • Displays low self-esteem, minimal self-confidence, and denigrates self
  • Develops sleep issues
  • When approaching puberty, may act in a sexually provocative manner
  • Set fires

If a child shows several signs of emotional difficulty, it's best to have him evaluated by a mental health professional.

The following serious warning signs merit immediate consultation with a pediatrician or a psychiatrist:

  • Talk of suicide
  • Child becomes accident prone
  • Self-mutilation
  • Child may mutilate or kill animals
  • Eating habits change to the point that weight is affected
  • Ritual behaviors are adopted indicating obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Attacks another child or adult
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Sexual activity at a very young age

In the CDC report, it found that mental disorders among children have cost $247 billion per year in medical bills, special education and juvenile justice.

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