Hi y’all! In my therapy office, I see children who get diagnosed with things ranging from Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to PTSD. These diagnoses are either made by me once they enter my office, a previous therapist, or their primary care provider. In young children, some mental health diagnoses are more common than others. Below are some statistics from 2016 by the Center for Disease Control and Department of Health & Human Services regarding those diagnoses.

Disclaimer: The statements made in this blog are not medical advice. If you need medical help please reach out to a physician or other medical provider. You may also contact the U.S. national crisis line by dialing 988.

What are the stats?

The above table only shows the top three most common diagnoses among U.S. children. Not all of my patients are diagnosed with ADHD, Anxiety or Depression. As stated in the beginning of this post, I also see children with a trauma-related disorder, mood disorders and more. Why are these diagnoses more common than others? There is no definitive answer.

A mental health diagnosis can be tricky, due to some diagnoses presenting in similar ways. In my other post below, I describe the similarities and differences among two diagnoses. Also, diagnosing a child can be more difficult than diagnosing an adult. Children are still developing and through those developments, presentations change. A diagnosing clinician has to know the difference between what is typical four-year-old behavior and what could be a possible mental health issue. 

Why would my child get a mental health diagnosis?

During my time as a child therapist, I experience the rare occurrence where a family is surprised that their child is either getting or already has a mental health diagnosis. I have even had adults ask why their child has one or the child themselves was not aware of their diagnosis. So why would a child need a mental health diagnosis to get therapy? The simple answer, money. If you are using insurance to pay for sessions, insurance companies require a diagnosis to pay for those sessions. I could go on and on about how it is ridiculous that insurance companies need this information, but that could be a whole separate blog post.

How can I avoid a diagnosis?

If you are hesitant to have your child get a mental health diagnosis for any reason–stigma, worried how they will react, society perception– there are ways to avoid that, but it can be costly. You would have to pay out-of-pocket for sessions. This payment method means no diagnosis is needed because your insurance is not being billed. However, if the situation requires weekly sessions, that cost can add-up. Some therapists offer a sliding-scale option.

If you wish to pay out-of-pocket you will need to find a private practice therapist who gives that option. You should be able to find that information on their website or they should tell you when you call and ask.

What are the pros and cons of a diagnosis?

Pros

Just like with most things in life, getting a diagnosis comes with pros and cons. Getting a diagnosis can make some feel more informed, have a better understanding of themselves and what has been going on. I will read the criteria of a diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) to families in sessions. I have noticed that when I do and they start to hear some of the things they experience or family members experience I can visibly see the relief they feel. They go from this is all in my head to oh this is something that does actually happen to people.

Depending on where you live, getting a diagnosis for your child can help get access to additional resources. For school, if a child struggles academically or behaviorally and they have a diagnosis then the school should work with the family to create either a 504 or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to help them be more successful at school. Each state’s process for obtaining one of these resources is different. In my state you need to contact the school requesting this process. You should do any contact in writing to help keep accurate records.

Getting a diagnosis may help connect someone to others who are going through the same thing. For example, there are child therapy groups for those with anxiety, depression, and more. Sometimes, all it takes is to know we are not alone to start to feel better.

Cons

Unfortunately, there is still a lot of social stigma regarding mental health and having a diagnosis. I see many families where one parent or caregiver is hesitant to the helpfulness of therapy or just downright thinks therapy is useless. Mental health did not have a great start. You can read some about that here. Some still view going to therapy as an admission to being crazy or having something wrong with them.

With that social stigma comes roadblocks for some depending on their diagnosis. The U.S. military will not accept an individual with certain diagnoses such as personality disorders, ADHD, or learning disabilities. Anyone with aspirations to join the military may be hesitant to have one of these diagnoses on record.

For some, getting a diagnosis can make them feel stuck. We are all guilty of going down the Dr. Google rabbit hole when we hear of something we have never heard of before. I have had some parents come into the first session so sure what their kid has due to their own research or because some relative has that diagnosis. Now, some mental health diagnoses can be common in families, but just because one family member has ADHD does not mean ALL family members will have ADHD. Families can hear a diagnosis and get stuck researching everything there is about it, instead of doing the work to adapt to that diagnosis. Or, it becomes that individual’s entire identity. This makes it difficult for a child to develop other parts of themselves at a critical age where they should constantly be developing.

CONCLUSION

If you spoke to any clinician they would probably tell you that post-Covid pandemic, they have seen an increase in some diagnoses, such as anxiety and depression. Is that because more kids are getting anxious and depressed? Or is it because we as a society are paying more attention and noticing these issues easily? Whatever the answer, one thing is clear. Kids mental health is important and should continue to be discussed.

Like this post? Share it! Then check out: 

Does My Kid Need Therapy, History Of Child Mental Health