Common neurodevelopmental, psychological, and mental health conditions amongst children & teens

Anxiety disorders: Children experience outsized fears or worries that disrupt their ability to engage in activities like play, school, or social interactions. This may include social anxiety, generalised anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Children with ADHD struggle with paying attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or a combination of these issues compared to their peers.

Autism: A neurological condition, autism manifests in early childhood, affecting communication and social interaction abilities to varying degrees.

Eating disorders: Characterised by an unhealthy fixation on body image, distorted thoughts about weight, and harmful eating habits, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder can lead to emotional, social, and life-threatening physical complications.

Depression and other mood disorders: Lasting feelings of sadness, irritability, and loss of interest in activities hinder academic performance and social interaction. Bipolar disorder involves extreme mood swings between depression and manic episodes, potentially leading to risky behaviour.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Children may experience long-term emotional distress, nightmares, and behavioural issues following exposure to trauma such as violence or abuse.

Schizophrenia: Onset typically occurs in the late teens or early 20s, causing perceptual distortions, hallucinations, and unusual thoughts and behaviours as individuals lose touch with reality.