Mental Health Problems in Early Childhood Can Impair Learning and Behavior for Life: Working Paper No. 6


 

Publication Date: December 2008

Publisher: National Scientific Council on the Developing Child

Author(s):

Research Area: Population and demographics

Keywords: Preventative medicine; Child development; Mental health

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Significant mental health problems can and do occur in young children. In some cases, these problems can have serious consequences for early learning, social competence, and lifelong health. Furthermore, the foundations of many mental health problems that endure through adulthood are established early in life through the interaction of genetic predispositions and sustained, stress-inducing experiences. This knowledge should motivate practitioners and policymakers alike to address mental health problems at their origins, rather than only when they become more serious later in life. This report summarizes in clear language the most recent scientific advances regarding the importance of addressing emerging emotional and behavioral problems in the early years, and the implications of those findings for policy.