Mental illness can be avoided in youth

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Intervention programs in schools, communities and healthcare settings can reduce risk for mental illness in young adults, a U.S. researcher said.

Mary E. Evans of the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida & Institute of Medicine assessed a recently released government report on preventing mental disorders among young people and said specific risk and protective factors have been identified for many mental disorders.

The article, published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, said a number of interventions have been developed to provide training in parenting skills to prevent the development of aggressive and anti-social behavior.

In addition, some preventive interventions have targeted specific disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Cognitive behavioral treatment for high-risk adolescents has lowered the rate of major depressive symptoms, Evans said.

About one in five young people in the United States have a current mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. About half of all adults with mental disorders recalled that their disorders began by their mid-teens and three-quarters by their mid-20s, Evans said.