Wow! Out of the blue I received an email from a Major Gift Officer from Phoenix Children's Hospital. She replaced the former officer I met with and to my pleasant surprise she spent an hour and a half listening to what the department of pediatric psychiatry needs to serve the communitiy it serves. Also educating me on how the foundation operates.
Following are some of the statistics I shared with her to help her learn about a subspecialty close to my heart.
Some staggering statistics: In the United States 3.4 million children and adolescents are diagnosed with depression. Depression affects 10 percent of children and adolescents in the general population. How many go undiagnosed?
It is believed approximately one third of these children may be suffering from early onset of Bipolar Disorder. Mood disorders of all kinds, including ADD and ADHD are genetic.
Statistics found at: World Health Organization, Child Mental Health Atlas, 2005
Kessler et al. report that half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders start by age 14 years.
My personal experience and research from my children's psychiatrists proves mood disorders are demonstrated in children younger than 9 years. My twins symptoms started in 4th grade.
The International Association of Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry documents that countries with higher proprtion of children lack both policies and services for this vulnerable population.
WOW! How can we ignore these statistics?
"Our children are our future" includes the vulnerable with mood disorders, as well as those with cancer, juvenile diabetes, leukemia and the list goes on.
If you have specific questions regarding more statistics, where to get help, how to navigate insurance benenfits and more feel free to email me at rocknrobbn@yahoo.com.
Be Well and Take a Break Today,
Even if only 5 minutes in the bathroom to breathe:)
Robbin
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