Stigma and Mental Disorders in Developmental Age

Most mental disorders begin during developmental age. Different misinformation about mental illnesses cause anxiety, create stereotypes and promote stigma. Stigma has been identified as a likely key factor in mental health services access and utilization, particularly under-utilization of existing services especially in children with mental disorders. Stigma is a problem with which parents / carers face child emotional and behavioral problems when they seek professional help. Very often they avoid to seek professional help due to existing stigmatized attitudes leading to lack of treatment. Poor mental health is strongly related to other health and development concerns in young people, notably lower educational achievements, substance abuse and violence. The paper presents influence of mental disorders in developmentale age and consequence of mental stigma on psychosocial function on children and adolescent.