According to the National Institutes of Health, 20% of youth ages 3 to 17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder, and mental health challenges were the leading cause of death and disability in the age group. Suicidal behaviors among high school students also increased more than 40% in the decade before 2019.
Responding to this troubling landscape, the book “Your Child’s Mental Health Diagnosis: A Comprehensive and Compassionate Guide for Parents” by Jacqueline Corcoran provides valuable information, support, and strategies for parents navigating their children’s mental health conditions and emotional well-being.
“I have clinical experience and lived experience with this subject, and I have worked with many children and their families,” says Corcoran, a professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) who is also a private practice psychotherapist. “Not surprisingly, youth mental health evolved as a scholarship interest of mine, and I’ve done many systematic reviews on disorders and well-being.”
The book draws back the curtain on how diagnoses are determined in the U.S. and both the limits and benefits of labels. It addresses the overwhelming emotions parents may feel when witnessing their child suffer and emphasizes the importance of parents looking after their own mental health and relationships. Corcoran’s book also provides comprehensive information about each condition’s symptoms, frequently co-occurring disorders, contributory factors, evidence-based treatments, medication options, working with a child’s school, and parents’ own insights
This story is by Carson Easterly. Read more at SP2 News.
