One of every five children and adolescents has a mental disorder, and one in ten has a serious emotional disturbance that affects daily functioning. But four out of five children who need mental health services do not receive them. At the highest levels, government policymakers and public health experts recognize the need to transform the mental health service system, including its early intervention components, to assure children who need services get them.
Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for promoting social and emotional development and preventing mental disorders— many major mental health disorders now are recognized to have their onset in childhood. Fortunately, prevention and early intervention efforts can minimize negative consequences for children and their families, as well as costs to society.