Child and Adolescent Mental Illness Statistics
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is hard for these children to control their behavior and/or pay attention. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or approximately 2 million children in the United States. This means that in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one will have ADHD. (Source: NIMH, www.nimh.nih.gov, accessed February 11, 2009) …

What is ADHD?
Almost all children have behavior issues from time to time. But, for children with ADHD, behavior problems are persistent and occur over a long period of time. For a child with ADHD, their symptoms can create challenges all day, every day — at home, at school and at play. That can make both child and parent feel frustrated and alone.
ADHD is a real and treatable medical condition that affects 5 million children in the United States. ADHD symptoms fall into 3 basic subtypes, which include inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive …

Mental Health MedicationsMedications are used to treat the symptoms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic-depressive illness), anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sometimes medications are used with other treatments such as psychotherapy. This guide describes:
Types of medications used to treat mental disorders
Side effects of medications
Directions for taking medications
Warnings about medications from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This booklet does not provide information about diagnosing mental disorders. Choosing the right medication, medication dose, and treatment plan should be based on a person’s individual …

Ritalin (methylphenidate)
How does Ritalin work? What will it do for me?
Methylphenidate belongs to the family of medications known as stimulants. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (uncontrollable need to sleep) in children over 6 years old and adults. It helps to increase attention and decrease restlessness in children and adults who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Other measures (e.g., psychological, educational, and social therapies) are used along with methylphenidate as part of an overall treatment program for ADHD. This medication also helps to stimulate …