Dr. LAKISHA BRANDON

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” — The World Health Organization, 1948

A healthy child does not exist when we neglect to recognize and treat underlying mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and Tourette’s. Without early diagnosis and treatment, there can be problems that are experienced by their parents, within their classroom setting, or that will extend into their adulthood.

Lakisha Brandon, ND
Childhood mental health disorders affect many children and families. Boys and girls of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and regions of the United States experience mental health disorders. Based on the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine report (Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities, 2009), it is estimated that 13 to 20 percent of children living in the United States experience a mental disorder in a given year. That’s as many as one out of five children. The report also estimates that $247 billion is spent each year on childhood mental disorders (CDC 2014). In short, children’s mental health disorders are an important public health issue in the United States.

When left untreated, children and teens with a mental health disorder could develop dependency towards harmful lifestyle situations: alcohol and drug use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, etc. What we need to do as parents and practitioners is to seek a healthy way of intervening in our children’s lives.