Mental healthcare for children and adolescents

The focus of this chapter is the role of the nurse in optimising child and youth mental health. An overview of mental disorders experienced during childhood and adolescence is followed by a discussion of mental health promotion for children and young people. Although the lifetime prevalence of eating disorders is very low, they are common, and nurses play an important role in the care of those affected children and young people admitted to hospital for treatment. The chapter looks specifically at how nurses can help support children and young people with eating disorders, and also considers the effects of digital technologies on the mental health of young people growing up in today's society. The importance of working closely with the parents and families of children and young people disabled by mental illness and the services available to them is emphasised throughout the chapter.