Title: child mental health | Definition, Risk Factors, & Child Development | Britannica
Headings: Child mental health
Child mental health
Protective and risk factors
Prevalence and impact
Prevention and intervention
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
Child mental health

Content: The impact of risk factors often leads to poor mental health outcomes in children. The presence of multiple risk factors increases a child’s vulnerability to experiencing a problem. Risks may stem from premature birth and low birth weight, poor physical health, ethnicity, peer and family relationships, parental mental health status (especially the mother’s), parental abuse of alcohol or drugs, and family violence. Many experts cite socioeconomic status (i.e., parental education or income) as a strong predictor of psychological well-being. In addition, particularly vulnerable groups of children are those who have been physically or sexually abused, those in foster care, and child refugees. Another vulnerable group of children comprises those with learning disabilities. Children with a learning difficulty (e.g., problems in learning and understanding compared with children of the same age) are at increased risk of developing a mental health problem. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now
Prevalence and impact
Clinical definitions of children’s mental health focus on the identification and classification of disorders as well as their treatment. Mental disorders cause both diagnostically significant symptoms and functional impairment.