Study shows many teens do not receive treatment for mental health disorders

By Staff Writer

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, many American teens who suffer from mental health issues are not treated for their conditions. For the research, scientists surveyed 6,483 adolescents who were between the ages of 13 and 18.

They found that only 36.2 percent of adolescents with mental health problems received proper treatment for their disorder. Although the severity of the condition was related to the likelihood that care was given, only about half of teens with severe disorders were given treatment.

However, children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were the most likely to receive care, with almost 60 percent getting some form of treatment. About 45 percent of teens with behavior conditions, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder, were treated.

Yet those who had anxiety, eating or substance abuse problems were the least likely to receive treatment. Additionally, many minority groups were less likely to get care than their Caucasian peers.

The researchers concluded that national shortages of mental health workers for children may be the cause of the problem.