Creative new ways to enhance children's mental health

(BPT) - At a time when mental health is often in the news, it can be overlooked that even children as young as 5-7 years old can have conditions including anxiety, depression and behavior disorders. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 7 children ages 3-17 had a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition, increasing in prevalence to about 1 in 5 receiving mental health therapy during their teen years (ages 12-17). Even more children may be living with symptoms of mental or behavioral health conditions, but because they may not meet the criteria for a condition, they remain undiagnosed.

For many parents, this could mean worrying about your child's mental well-being and the effect poor mental health can have on their behavioral development for years to come. And since children spend so much of their time in a school setting, it's just as important for educators and school staff to support the mental and emotional well-being of children in their care.