Children & Youth Mental Illnesses

In recent years, emotional and mental health problems have become increasingly common among children and adolescents, with symptoms appearing at younger ages. Common conditions include depression and anxiety disorders. In severe cases, young people experiencing emotional difficulties may engage in self-harm.

​

A local study conducted in 2008 estimated the prevalence of various mental health conditions among secondary school students as follows: anxiety disorders (6.9%), oppositional defiant disorder (6.8%), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (3.9%), major depressive disorder (1.3%) and substance abuse (1.1%).