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Children's
Mental Health Facts: Bipolar Disorder (from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Mental Health Information Center) |
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Every child's mental health is important. • Many children have mental health problems. • These problems are real and painful and can be severe. • Mental health problems can be recognized and treated. |
Mental
health problems affect one in every five young people at any given
time. "Serious emotional disturbances" for children and adolescents refers to the above disorders when they severely disrupt daily functioning in home, school, or community. Serious emotional disturbances affect one in every 10 young people at any given time. For assistance/information call: 1-800-789-2647 National Mental Health Information Center 1-800-969-6642 (press 1) Mental Health America 1-800-273-8255 24 Hour Crisis Line (Mental Health America) 1-240-403-1901 National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health 1-800-950-6264 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) www.nami.org For further information: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) 730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501 Chicago, IL 60601-3526 Telephone: 800-826-3632 www.dbsalliance.org Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation 820 Davis Street, Suite 520 Evanston, IL 60201 Telephone: 847-492-8519 www.bpkids.org |
5030
El Camino Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 609-5100, fax (916)
609-5160 info@riveroak.org |
What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes persistent, overwhelming, and uncontrollable changes in moods, activities, thoughts, and behaviors. A child has a much greater chance of having bipolar disorder if there is a family history of the disorder or depression. This means that parents cannot choose whether or not their children will have bipolar disorder. Although bipolar disorder affects at least 750,000 children in the United States, it is often difficult to recognize and diagnose in children. Unlike some health problems where different people experience the same symptoms, children experience bipolar disorder differently. Often, children with the illness experience mood swings that alternate, or cycle, between periods of "highs" and "lows", called "mania" and "depression," with varying moods in between. What happens after a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis? If a qualified mental health provider has diagnosed your child with bipolar disorder, the provider may suggest several different treatment options, including strategies for managing behaviors, medications, and/or talk therapy. How does River Oak help children and adolescents with bipolar disorder? Treatment for bipolar disorder at River Oak often includes treatment and medication management. Medication needs are determined by a psychiatric medication assessment with a child psychiatrist. The psychiatrist works closely with parents and caregivers in order to best support the family and child's needs and wishes regarding medication. Treatment is generally Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This may include psycho-education about the illness and its course for both the child and the parent/caregiver. Family therapy is an important aspect of treatment for childhood bipolar disorder. This helps the family to support and understand the difficulties that arise from bipolar disorder. Treatment may also include self monitoring, mood logs, behavioral contingency management, problem solving and communication skills, relaxation, crisis management, parent coping, and skills building, among others. Important messages about children's and adolescents' mental health: |