Mental health is integral to a fulfilling and content way of life. Particular mental health problems can affect different age groups, and there is also a disparity between genders. With the increase in mental illness among the population, there is a growing need for healthcare professionals with expertise in mental health, and nurse practitioners are essential in providing high-quality patient care in this area.
In particular, there is demand within healthcare for nurse practitioners specializing in family care and psychiatric mental health. Marymount University offers online programs for registered nurses to pursue both pathways. You can find more information about these programs and compare FNP vs. PMHNP to discover the right career path for you.
Many mental health conditions differ in acuteness and range from mild to severe. These conditions come under two categories: Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Any Mental Illness (AMI). AMI includes all recognized mental illness, whereas SMI is a more severe and smaller section of AMI. AMI includes behavioral, emotional and mental disorders, which vary in impact. SMI encompasses the same disorders but with a severe functional impairment that negatively impacts everyday life.
Mental health statistics
In 2021, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) collected data on mental illness among the US population. NSDUH statistics showed the following prevalence of AMI among different groups:
- 2% females
- 1% males
- 7% young adults 18-25 years
- 1% adults aged 26-49 years
- 15% adults aged 50 and over
These statistics show the prevalence of SMI among different groups:
- 7% females
- 4% males
- 4% young adults aged 18-25 years
- 1% adults aged 26-49 years
- 5% adults aged 50 and over
An estimated 49.5% of adolescents had a mental disorder, and an estimated 22.2% had severe distress or impairment.
Children’s mental health
Mental health is as essential health-wise for children as it is for adults. Young people who receive early treatment can enjoy better mental health as adults. Evaluation and treatment can be beneficial for children with difficulties such as having tantrums and being very irritable or who often complain about headaches or stomach aches without medical reason. They may have little energy, no interest in anything and sleep too little or too much.
Children do suffer from depression, but because the symptoms are different from an adult, it can go unrecognized and untreated. Depression in adults tends to cause low moods and energy loss, whereas children can be irritable, angry, have behavior problems and experience headaches or stomach aches. They may become disinterested in school and after-school activities, be withdrawn with friends and family and be bad-tempered.
Children often do not express their feelings as well as adults. Parents may be reluctant to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental illness and the worry that they will be blamed. Primary healthcare providers may not always screen children for depression. If depression is unrecognized, it can lead to developmental setbacks. Academic performance can suffer, the development of social skills can be impaired and families can struggle to function. The most serious concern is that children may attempt or commit suicide.
When a child shows troubling behavior changes, they can see their primary care provider, who will take a history, do a physical examination, screen for depression and order laboratory tests. The initial evaluation should include a suicide risk assessment. The information gathered will influence whether or not the child is referred to a mental health professional. If there is a risk of suicide, the child will be referred to a specialist and may be admitted to a hospital.
The treatment plan should include therapy and support from a mental health professional and may include antidepressant drug therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be adapted for children, and interpersonal therapy can allow the child to talk about their feelings and situation and learn skills to help foster better relationships. Bereavement therapy could help if the child has experienced the death of a loved one. Family therapy can also be considered. The primary care provider can educate the family about depression and help them plan supportive care at home.
If necessary, the primary care provider or specialist in child psychiatry can prescribe antidepressants, which can take between four to six weeks to improve mood. Initially, the child may be at more risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harming or other destructive behaviors. The doctor or nurse practitioner will contact the family at least once a week to check on their progress.
ADHD is one of the most common mental health conditions that children are diagnosed with. ADHD symptoms include impulsivity, attention dysregulation and hyperactivity. Challenges for these children can include organization, decision-making, working memory, planning, emotional regulation, time management and prioritization. Boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. This diagnosis rate could be because symptoms present differently in girls and can be harder to identify. Research has shown that boys display symptoms that are easier to see, such as running around and being physically aggressive, whereas girls with ADHD struggle to pay attention and have low self-esteem.
Treatment for children with ADHD under six years of age is behavior therapy first before trying medication. The treatment is often a combination of behavior therapy and medication for older children. Therapists work with parents and guardians to give them skills for helping their child manage ADHD.
Teenager’s mental health
Evidence shows there has been an increase in the rates of teenage depression and suicide in recent years. Some populations of youth are more susceptible to mental illness, including those who are black, female, socioeconomically disadvantaged or LGBT+. Poor mental health can impact several areas of a teenager’s life, such as school and decision-making. Mental health problems can also cause behavioral and health risks, including drug use and high-risk sexual behavior.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in symptoms of depression and anxiety among young people. Suspected suicide attempts among teenage girls have increased considerably. The pandemic caused many societal difficulties, such as COVID-related illness and death, job losses, housing instability and loss of access to social services and mental healthcare.
Some research has indicated that social media harms teenage mental health, especially for girls, with an increase in self-harm, depression and anxiety. However, other research has not found a link between social media use and mental health, suggesting that even if there is a correlation, there must be other reasons for the rise in teenage mental health problems.
Young people have become more open about mental health problems, which has been suggested as a possible reason for the rise in cases. However, there appear to be many factors affecting mental health. The more risk factors teenagers experience, the more likely they are to be mentally unwell. Young people can struggle with exploring identity, conforming to peers and facing adversity. Other determinants can be academic pressure, quality of home life and relationships with peers. Difficult relationships with parents or guardians, violence and socioeconomic disadvantages are all risks to mental health.
Puberty can also bring challenges to teenagers, such as dealing with difficult emotions. In addition, there can be biological factors that contribute to experiencing mental health problems, and these can be combined with environmental factors, making it difficult to ascertain the exact cause of mental illness among individuals.
Doctors can treat teenage mental health problems with counseling and medication. They can also refer young people to a mental health specialist who can conduct an evaluation and create a treatment plan that could include psychotherapy, medication, support groups or hospitalization, depending on each case.
Men’s mental health
Men experience lower rates of mental illness compared to women, but those with mental illness are less likely to receive a diagnosis or treatment. Researchers have recently begun investigating biological factors that may impact mental health. Some symptoms of mental disorders experienced by men include obsessive thinking or compulsive behavior, anger, irritability, aggressiveness, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.
Asking for help can be difficult for men, but not undergoing treatment can worsen the situation. There are several reasons for why men may be reluctant to seek help, and one is the pressure to be strong and not admit weakness. Other reasons can be due to culture, race, fatherhood and socioeconomic status. These stigmas can be dangerous, making unhealthy behavior more likely, such as turning to substance abuse. They are also more likely to commit suicide, as men experience a higher suicide rate than women.
Common mental health disorders among men include depression, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and substance abuse. Recognizing that someone has a mental disorder can be the first step toward getting treatment. Starting treatment early can mean it is more effective.
There can be barriers to treating men for mental health as they can be reluctant to express their feelings. However, with gender-sensitive assessment, strategies and treatment, mental health professionals can provide the help needed. A thorough evaluation and screening can diagnose mental illness. A range of therapies may be used, including psychotherapy, medication and behavioral therapies.
Women’s mental health
Some mental disorders are more common in women, such as anxiety, eating disorders and depression. Depression is the most common mental illness among women. Studies have shown that women are twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety and PTSD than men. In addition, more women than men suffer from eating disorders.
However, some mental disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia do not occur at different rates between men and women, but symptoms may vary, and the course of the illness may differ between the sexes. Some of the symptoms experienced by women with mental disorders include extremely high or low moods, excessive fear or worry, social withdrawal or suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts.
Certain disorders are unique to women, including hormone changes causing depression during or after pregnancy, during periods and menopause. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can cause symptoms in women the week before their period. Women diagnosed with depression and anxiety may experience worse symptoms of PMS than women who do not have mental health disorders. If PMS symptoms are extreme, there may be a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). This condition is similar to PMS, but the symptoms are more severe. The emotional impact can include tension, irritability, mood swings and severe depression. Mental health staff can offer treatment options.
After giving birth, women often experience postpartum blues. If this continues beyond two weeks, the woman is usually diagnosed with postpartum depression and will receive treatment. A rare condition is postpartum psychosis, which generally appears soon after the delivery. The most common symptoms are hallucinations, confusion and paranoia. This condition is treated immediately by mental health professionals. Finally, there will be a hormonal change toward the end of a woman’s reproductive years, leading to menopause. If a woman is prone to depression and anxiety, this could cause mental health symptoms to reappear.
Older adult’s mental health
As people get older, they may experience changes that affect their mental health. Risk factors for late-onset depression include physical illness, widowhood, low educational attainment, impaired functional status and heavy alcohol consumption. Many people successfully adapt to these challenges, but some will experience grief, loneliness and social isolation, leading to mental illness. The most common conditions include anxiety, severe cognitive impairment and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. There are treatment options that can help older adults manage their mental health and enjoy a better quality of life. Some symptoms experienced by older adults with mental disorders are sadness or hopelessness, misuse of alcohol or drugs, anger, irritability or aggressiveness.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems among older adults. Almost half of older adults with depression also experience anxiety. Late-life anxiety is thought to be as common in older adults as anxiety is in younger age groups. However, older adults are less likely to report psychiatric symptoms and more likely to present with physical complaints.
Depression is the most common mental health illness among older adults. It can cause distress and suffering and impair social, physical and mental functioning. Depressive disorders can also adversely affect the treatment of physical ailments.
Older adults with depression visit the emergency room and doctor more than the average patient, take more medication, are charged more for outpatient services and have longer hospital stays. The rate of depressive symptoms tends to increase with age. For most patients, depression is a treatable condition but is under-recognized and undertreated among older adults.
The good news is that depression is one of the most successfully treated illnesses. Treatments for depression in later life are highly effective, and most depressed older adults can experience a marked improvement after undergoing treatment.
Mental health professionals
With the increase in mental health problems, there is much demand for highly skilled mental health professionals such as nurse practitioners. Mental health is a complex area of medicine that encompasses many disorders and related causes. Throughout one’s life, particular problems affect people of different ages and genders. Mental health professionals have the knowledge and skills to understand the appropriate approach for each individual.