Every child deserves the chance to thrive, yet many face challenges that make everyday life feel overwhelming. In 2022-2023, nearly one in three youth ages 12-17 experienced a mental, behavioral or developmental health condition. And more than half of those children struggled to access the care they needed. Left unaddressed, these challenges can grow, affecting not only mental health but overall wellness.

But there’s real hope for children and teens struggling with their mental health. With early help and caring support, young people can build the coping skills they need. Explore the five most common childhood mental health disorders, and what families and communities can do to help kids thrive.

What Causes a Child to Develop a Mental Health Disorder?

Mental health disorders in children rarely have just one cause — and that complexity can make it harder for kids to get the support they need. Below are some factors that may play a role:

• Biological and Genetic Factors: Every child’s brain develops differently, and sometimes those biological differences can impact mental health. Things like neurotransmitter or serotonin imbalances can contribute to a mental health disorder, but and none of it is the child or parent’s fault.

• Environmental Factors: What a child experiences day to day matters. Stressful or traumatic events, including abuse, can shape a child’s emotional world and increase the risk of mental health challenges, even if the child was too young to remember what happened.

• Psychological Factors: A child’s view of themselves plays a big role in their wellbeing. Low self-esteem, body image concerns or other insecurities can make life feel heavier, especially when influenced by peer pressure or what they see on social media.

• Brain Injuries: When a child has experienced a brain injury, it can affect how their brain grows and develops. This can make them more vulnerable to mental health challenges and change how they think, feel and interact with the world.

All of these factors are influenced by a child’s lived experience, even down to state-specific factors that impact child wellbeing like economics, education and access to healthcare. However, there are still things you can do to help a child develop good mental health from a young age! Learn the five things every child needs for good mental health here.

Five Most Common Mental Disorders in Children and Youth

Every child is different, and so the mental health challenges they experience will be different too. But there are some common mental disorders that children and youth may experience, and they can develop more than one of these disorders. Here are five of the most common mental disorders in the U.S. today:

Anxiety

Anxiety can appear early in life, even around eight months, as babies form deep bonds with their parents and caregivers. By age three, some children may begin showing signs of stronger anxiety or panic disorders.

The good news is that anxiety is treatable, and many children learn healthy ways to cope and feel safe again. In 2022–2023, about 11% of children ages three to 17 were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, reminding us that many families are walking this path and finding hope along the way.

Types of anxiety commonly experienced by adolescents include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder — A mental health condition in which a child experiences persistent, excessive worry about many aspects of daily life, even when there’s no clear reason to be afraid
• Panic Disorder — A condition in which a child has sudden, intense episodes of fear called panic attacks, which can cause physical symptoms like a racing heart or trouble breathing
• Phobias — Strong and specific fears, such as fear of animals, places, or situations, that can feel overwhelming and may cause a child to avoid certain things
• Social Anxiety — A condition in which a child feels especially nervous or self-conscious in social situations, including avoidance of social settings
• Separation Anxiety — A disorder in which a child experiences extreme distress when apart from parents or caregivers, even for short periods of time
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — A condition that can develop after a child experiences or witnesses a traumatic event or a season of ongoing trauma, leading to ongoing fear, intrusive memories, difficulty feeling safe and other negative repercussions

Depression

Depression is more common than many people realize. Nearly 9% of youth experience it before adulthood. Without support, depression can seriously affect a young person’s daily life. Professional care and sometimes medication can help stabilize symptoms and support healing.

Types of depression include:

• Major Depressive Disorder — A condition where a child experiences intense, persistent sadness and loss of interest that interferes with daily life
• Persistent Depressive Disorder — A longer-lasting, but sometimes less severe, form of depression in which a child feels chronically sad, irritable, or low for many months or years.
• Bipolar Depression — A component of bipolar disorder, bipolar depression is a mood disorder in which a child cycles between periods of depression and periods of unusually high energy or mood (mania or hypomania)
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — A form of depression in which a child’s mood and energy can drop during certain seasons (most often in the winter) when daylight is limited
• Atypical Depression — A type of depression where a child may feel sad, but still experience mood improvement in response to positive events, along with symptoms like increased sleep, appetite or sensitivity to rejection

Severe cases of depression may indicate a high risk of suicidal ideation. If your child ever expresses thoughts of suicide, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 immediately.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by differences in the development and function of the nervous system. More than 10% of children from age 3 through 17 years had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023, only half of whom received medication for it.

ADHD manifests in two forms of behavioral challenges: 

• Inattentiveness: Short attention span, forgetfulness, difficulty staying on task
• Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness: Inability to sit still, talking a lot and interrupting, impulsive actions

A child with ADHD may predominantly experience inattentiveness or hyperactivity and impulsiveness, or they may struggle with both. It is most common for children with an ADHD diagnosis to experience both behavioral challenges.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

While statistically smaller than the other common mental disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been increasingly diagnosed in the last decade. Approximately 1 in 31 children will receive an ASD diagnosis by the age of nine. There is no known cause for ASD.

The word “spectrum” is used because there is such a broad range in the types and severity of symptoms that people experience. Autism spectrum disorder symptoms may include:

• Difficulty with communication and social interactions
• Long-lasting, intense interests
• Less or more sensitivity to sensory input
• Easily upset by minor changes in daily routine
• Frequent repetitive behaviors (i.e., repeated words, phrases or noises)

Many autistic youth do well in subjects they enjoy, like math, music or art. They often demonstrate great attention to detail, strong long-term memory, and strong visual or auditory learning skills.

Disruptive Behavior Disorders

It’s normal for children to argue or have tantrums. But when these behaviors happen often or become more intense, they may be signs of a disruptive behavior disorder. These disorders can appear at any age but are most common in children ages six to 11. About 9.6% of adolescents have a diagnosed behavior disorder.

There are two main types of disruptive behavior disorders:

• Conduct Disorder: A child with a conduct disorder tends to show excessive aggression toward others and struggles significantly with following rules. Behaviors may include bullying, risky behaviors, damage to property, frequent lying and stealing.
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): A child who is acting out frequently to the point of negatively affecting many aspects of their life (school, friendships, home life, etc.) may have ODD. Behaviors may include arguing with authority figures, anger or tantrums, inability to take responsibility for their actions and not following rules well.

If Your Child Needs Mental Health Support

By understanding these common disorders and the factors that might be hindering a child’s development, we can help them get the support and interventions they need. Every community should work to promote healthy brain development and build resilience in children.

When you’re caring for a child or teen experiencing mental health challenges, resources can empower you to find hope when you’re unsure how to move forward. Here are a few resources from KVC to help:

• Developing an Emotional Regulation Plan or Safety Plan
• Guides to Youth Mental Health Conditions and Diagnoses
• What Does a Mental Health Crisis Look Like?
• What is Therapy, Really? A Guide for Children, Teens and Families

As a leader in mental health treatment, KVC provides an wide variety of innovative programs to help youth achieve mental health wellness through psychiatric, medical, therapeutic and educational services as well as emotion regulation and social skills development.

Our network of local nonprofits offer a wide variety of mental health services, including outpatient, therapy services (group, family or individual), inpatient hospitalization and residential treatment. Find support near you.