
Call us 24/7
519-433-0334

Signs & Symptoms
Click here for information on "What to Expect from Community Child & Youth Mental Health Services.
Click here for "Answers to Your Questions about Getting Help for Children with Mental Health Concerns"
Anxiety
Disorders
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)
Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive
Illness)
Conduct Disorder
Depression
Eating Disorders
Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia
1. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most commonly occurring mental health
problem in children and youth (6.5%). Anxiety is a normal reaction
to stressful situations, but it is a debilitating condition when it
hinders an individuals ability to cope on a day-to-day basis.
Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
child experiences extreme fear of being away from home or from his
primary caretakers
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
child experiences excessive and uncontrollable worry about things
for example: the future, being on time for appointments or a change
in routines when there is really no problem or any realistic
circumstance to cause the worry
Social Phobia (SOC)
child experiences excessive fear of being negatively evaluated,
rejected, humiliated or embarrassed in front of others.
Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia
(PD)
child has panic attacks in certain situations or places, may be
suffering from Agoraphobia if he or she has a fear of being stuck
in a situation where help or escape is unavailable
back to top
2. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD occurs in 3-5% of children and youth. It typically begins
before the age of seven and can continue into adulthood.
Possible Signs:
- inattentiveness: includes not being able to focus on any one thing, inability to complete tasks, organize or study
- impulsiveness: includes unrestrained verbal and emotional outbursts, not thinking about consequences of actions, inability to take turns in games or wait for things they want
- hyperactivity: includes the inability to sit still, need to
speak constantly
back to top
3. Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness)
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness,
typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood, but it
can occur in teenagers and even rarely in young children (.1%).
Everyone goes through normal periods of ups and downs, but Bipolar
Disorder causes dramatic mood swings from overly high and/or
irritable (Mania) to sad and hopeless (Depression).
Possible Signs:
- severe changes in mood to either unusually happy or silly, or very irritable, angry, agitated or aggressive
- unrealistic highs in self-esteem, for example a teenager who feels all-powerful or like a superhero with special powers
- surges in energy and the ability to go with little or no sleep for days without feeling tired
- unfocused talking patterns - talks too much, too fast, changes
topics too quickly, and cannot be interrupted
back to top
4. Conduct Disorder
About 3 to 5 children out of every 100 in Canada have a Conduct
Disorder. A child with Conduct Disorder has both emotional and
behavioural problems and will take dangerous risks. Many accidents
in young people are the result of risks they take because they have
a Conduct Disorder. Accidents represent the number one cause of
death in Canadian teens. Conduct disorders can co-occur with
Depression and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Possible Signs:
- has difficulty following the rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way
- bursts out in anger frequently
- acts aggressively towards peers and adults
- begins to lie, steal, destroy property, and be sexually inappropriate
- takes risks and attempt to commit suicide
- fails in school and has negative family and social
experiences
back to top
5. Depression
Depression is defined as an illness when symptoms continue for
two weeks or more and have a significant impact on a young person's
ability to function.
Possible Signs:
- irritability, depressed mood, persistent sadness, frequent crying
- thoughts of death or suicide
- loss of enjoyment in favorite activities
- persistent refusal to go to school
- frequent complaints of physical illnesses such as headaches or stomach aches
- low energy level, fatigue, poor concentration, complaints of boredom
- major change in eating or sleeping patterns, such as
oversleeping or overeating
back to top
6. Eating Disorders
Anorexia and bulimia are on the rise among Canada's teenaged
girls. Anorexia affects 1 in every 100 to 200 adolescent girls in
Canada and a much smaller number of boys. It is estimated that from
1 to 3 of every 100 young people in Canada suffer from Bulimia. A
teen who has Anorexia or Bulimia is a perfectionist who suffers
from low self-esteem and an un-real belief of being overweight,
regardless of how thin he or she is.
Possible Signs:
- not eating enough; this will cause his or her weight to drop 15% below what is normal for his or her age and height
- eats too much food all at once and then focuses on getting the food out of his or her stomach by vomiting, using laxatives or exercising too much
- fear about weight gain
- an unrealistic image of her/his body; constantly thinks he/she is overweight
- a loss or interruption of menstruation
back to top
7. Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a disease that affects the brain. About 1 out
of every 1000 children in Canada has Schizophrenia. A child can
first develop Schizophrenia at an early phase of his or her
development and it can lead to a child being severely
disabled.
Young people with Schizophrenia will find it hard to control what
they think and the way they act. A young person will begin to act
differently if he or she develops Schizophrenia. For example, a
child who used to enjoy being around other people may become shy
and seem in his or her own world.
Possible Signs:
- confuses television with reality
- has problems making and keeping friends
- is extremely moody
- laughs at a sad event
- has trouble telling the difference between dreams and reality
- thinks that people are out to get him/her or can read his/her
mind
back to top



