Health Alert: 1 in 5 Children Has A Mental Disorder

New report is the first to show data of children’s mental health.

Attention-deficit disorder, behavior disorders, autism spectrum disorders and substance abuse disorders are just some diseases that are common among children. 

A report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that one out of five children in the U.S. has a mental disorder.

This means that about 13 to 20 percent of all the children in the country experience a mental disorder in any given year.  

Among the findings, the CDC found that the top five mental diseases among children are: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with 6.8 percent, behavior or conduct problem with 3.5 percent, anxiety with 3.0 percent, depression with 2.1 percent, and autism spectrum disorders with 1.1. percent. 

The report states that $247 billion is spent each year on childhood mental disorders. This number increases as the care of them as adults adds up.

This is the first report to show mental disorders among children aged 3 to 17 years. The CDC used different sources and looked at data from 2005 to 2011 to come up with the estimates. 

The CDC has resources available for mental health here. 

Do you know a child with a mental disorder? 

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Let’s Talk: Mental Health and Minorities

Join @TheLoop21 on Twitter 5/14 at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST to discuss the importance of mental health and minorities using #L21Health.

Aristotle once said, “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”

The mind is what controls everything that we do, in every phase of our lives, at every minute, which is why it is important to keep it healthy. 

Nonetheless, school, work, relationships and trying to balance all of the facets of our lives can get in the way of having a healthy mental state. 

Last year, ABC News reported that one in five Americans suffer from a mental illness. 

Among minorities, the numbers are higher.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OHM), African Americans are 20 percent more likes and Hispanics are three times more likely to report a serious psychological distress than Non-Hispanic Whites.

The Office of Minority Health also reports that in 2009, the death rate from suicide for African American men was almost four times that for African American women. 

For Hispanics, the death rate from suicide for men is almost five times the rate for Hispanic women, the OHM reports.   

Understanding mental health can be tricky, and that is why Loop 21 is here to help.

During the next TweetUp, Loop21 will break down all of the information and tell you everything you need to know about mental health.   

Join the conversation on May 14 at 1p.m.ET/10 a.m.PT. The hashtag is #L21Health.

Boost your healthy living by joining this TweetUp! Don’t miss out! 

5 Energy Boosting Foods

Dark and leafy vegetables. An inadequate amount of iron can result in fatigue because it prevents the body from producing oxygen-delivering hemoglobin. Dark and leafy greens like spinach and kale are not only low in calories, they are packed with iron. Photo Credit: Google Images

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Because sometimes, we all need an extra kick.

Low levels of energy can affect your workflow, productivity and mood. 

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Health Alert: Depressive Thinking Can Be Contagious

Research suggest thinking styles can be passed along.

Certain types of depressive thinking is contagious, according to new research published by the Clinical Psychological Science journal. Apparently, emotional states can be passed along.

While some people see depression as a cognitive chemical balance, scientist say social context and personal perspectives of yourself and the world can be critical in causing and sustaining the illness.

"Thinking styles are a really important factor in risk for depression," says the study's lead author Gerald Haeffel, associate professor of clinical psychology at Notre Dame University. "How one thinks about life stress and negative moods is one of the best predictors that we have of future depression."

Recognizing depression affects about 10 percent of college-aged adults, researchers studied the impacts of social settings and thinking styles of a group of about 110 incoming freshmen at a private university in the Midwest. As students transition from the familiarity of high school and family, then venture off to a social environment, the setting served as a real-world laboratory.

Researchers explored two types of thinking which have been linked with depression. The first involved rumination or constant brooding about what's going wrong. They found someone who broods will focus on why they feel sad versus someone who does not brood, as they will tend to distract themselves when they feel sad. The second depressive style that was examined was hopelessness. They discovered it was not contagious among roommates, but rumination was.

Results also showed depression symptoms themselves were not contagious. But, those who picked up on a ruminative style of thinking doubled the number of depressive symptoms of those who either weren't exposed to this perspective or didn't adopt the rumination during the testing period. The risk was magnified if subjects experienced high levels of stress.

The study also found, however, that healthy thinking was also contagious. Subjects who were surrounded by a positive thinking style developed a more positive style themselves.

The study could not determine what made a particular roommate's style more likely to dominate and influence, rather than be influenced.

Get Moving: Just 8 Minutes a Day Can Keep Obese From Depression

A little bit goes a long way

Severely obese people who are physically active even a small amount of time are less likely to suffer from depression than those who are sedentary. A study found that just eight minutes of moderate physical activity each day could reduce the odds of them needing treatment for depression or anxiety by 92 percent. The three-year study examined 850 severely obese patients scheduled to undergo weight-loss surgery; they wore an electronic device on their ankle to track the amount of activity they got and completed a questionnaire to assess their mental health. Though one-third of the participants had symptoms of depression (and two in five had received medication or counseling for it), researchers additionally found that even just 4,750 steps a day (less than half the 10,000 steps recommended for a healthy adult) reduced the odds of depression or anxiety treatment by 81 percent. (Daily Record)

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'Coming Out' Good For Your Health, Study Shows

Less stress, signs of depression

For gays, lesbians and bisexuals, leading a "double life" can affect their physical and mental health. A study by McGill University and the University of Montreal found that those who "came out," or disclosed their sexuality, to family, friends and co-workers were psychologically healthier and had lower stress hormone levels and fewer signs of depression than those who were still “in the closet.” Lead author of the study Robert-Paul Juster said, "It seems to be that if you’re using more avoidance coping, and wishful thinking, then you get poorer health.” For those who come out, though, "a rebirth happens that makes them feel much more empowered and conscientious." Similarly, a study from Columbia University last year found that after Massachusetts enacted its same-sex marriage law in 2003, there was a significant drop in medical and mental health care visits incurred by gay men. (NBC News)

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Therapy for Suicidal Teenagers Not As Effective As Believed

A majority of troubled adolescents received treatment before attempting suicide

Teenagers who are seeing counselors for bouts of depression and other psychological disorders aren’t getting as much out of it as loved ones and communities hope they are. A new study in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that 55 percent of suicidal teens had received some therapy before they thought about suicide, planned it or tried to kill themselves. The findings contradict a widely held belief that suicide is due to a lack of treatment. The study was based on nationwide interviews with more than 6,000 teenagers and at least one parent of each. Researchers linked suicidal behavior to a combination of mood disorders, behavioral problems, and alcohol and drug abuse. One in eight teens in the study had persistent suicidal thoughts at some point in their young lives, and about a third of them made a suicide attempt within a year of having the idea. This is the largest nationwide study of suicide in teens and supports similar findings in small, regional samplings. (New York Times)

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Do You Have Busy Life Syndrome?

Doctors declare a new epidemic brought on by stress and social media

*cue sad music and concerned voice*

Did you forget to return you friend's phone call? Are you setting alarms on your phone to remind yourself of menial tasks, like taking out the trash or picking up clothes from the dry cleaners?

Have you lost your car keys? 

Can't find that last pack of hot sauce from the wings spot?

Do you know where your left shoe is?

You're not alone. Dozens, hundreds and maybe even thousands of people can't find their left shoe and have no idea that it ended up in the trunk of the car they can't find the keys for. But now, finally, after years of suffering, people like you finally have an answer for why they keep forgetting to call people back and pick up that dress shirt.

You may be suffering from Busy Life Syndrome.

[Also Read: 'Devil's Breath' Drug Can Erase Memory and Block Free Will]

What is Busy Life Syndrome you ask?

Well, it's when your already hectic life of working, paying bills, raising children and watching TV gets bombarded with an influx of information from social media, smart phones and the Internet.

Here are some probable symptoms:

You know your neighbor's Twitter handle, but not his real name

Half of your work day is spent TFTing: Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr

You'll send a phone call to voice mail, but will answer a text instantly

Living out the movie "Dude, Where's My Car?" every time you enter a parking lot

“We believe there are widespread signs of the problem,” says Angela Scott-Henderson, spokesperson for CPS Research, the firm who created the term "Busy Life Syndrome." “Our attention spans and concentration levels are going down. It’s getting to be more common, affecting people at younger ages.”

[Also Read: Scientist Have Found A Way To Hack Your Brain and Steal Passwords]

Up until now we've seen studies that have people blaming social media for everything from divorce to spending more. We've even seen cases where social media is said to have negative effects on self-esteem and good manners in general.  But now it's being blamed for literally losing your mind?

Eating Fruits and Vegetables Make You Happier [study]

Drown your sorrows in a bowl of cherries.

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apparently it keeps bad moods at bay too.

Economists from Dartmouth University and England are saying that the more fruits and veggies you eat, the happier you become. No, vodka cranberry and Bloody Mary cocktails do not count.

Researchers examined the diets of people who say they are stressed out from work and dissatisfied with life in general.

According to the report:

Eating seven to eight portions of vegetables was more strongly associated with happiness and overall well-being than employment status. On the whole, the paper concluded that well-being peaks at seven daily servings of fruits and vegetables, but the surveys also showed that people who ate just five servings a day (the amount that the USDA recommends) were as happy--or very nearly so--as people who ate higher amounts.

Unhappy? May be time to put down the cigarette and pick up some celery.

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Jesse Jackson Jr. Back At Rehab Clinic, Votes Absentee

Ailing congressman won’t hold an election night event, is expected to win reelection

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois voted by absentee ballot and recently checked himself back into a rehab clinic in Minnesota for treatment. Jackson, the son of civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson, has taken months of medical leave from the House of Representatives to treat bipolar disorder and gastrointestinal problems. There is no indication when he’ll return to work. The 47-year-old House Democrat is up for reelection and hasn’t campaigned beyond a recent robocall to voters. His publicist, Kevin Lampe, says Jackson won’t hold an election night event next week, although he is widely expected to win reelection. (Associated Press)

[ALSO READ: Can Jesse Jackson Jr.'s Depression Diagnosis Help Battle Stigma in the Black Community?]

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If You're Depressed, Should You Date?

With 1 in every 20 people suffering from depression, mental health experts say being social can be a part of healing.

Reality check.

Relationships aren't always like a love scene in your favorite romantic comedy. Sometimes they're like the scene in that television drama that made you cry. In extreme cases, it can be like that scene in the horror movie that made you stop what you were doing and leave the room.

For people with depression, navigating a relationship can feel like all three.

Mental Health took center stage this month, with the first week of October devoted to Mental Illness Awareness, and the World Health Organization observing World Mental Health Day Oct. 10. WHO reports that 350 million people suffer from depression globally. With 7 billion people walking on Earth, that means that 1 in every 20 people is depressed, making it very likely that you may suffer from depression or find yourself in a relationship with someone dealing with the symptoms of depression.

While feeling blue after a relationship ends may be a familiar topic, dating while depressed, or dating a person who is depressed, is not always discussed.

"It probably wouldn't want to be the first thing they bring up unless their partner has dealt with that before," says Dr. Samantha Jordan of Atlanta Area Psychological Associates. "But if it's something you really want and see it as long term, then yes be open as possible down the line."

A 2010 report by the Wall Street Journal said that 15 million American adults a year suffer from major depressive disorder. And 6 million Americans have another mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychotic disorders. But a full 50 percent of people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia don't believe they are ill and resist seeking help. People with clinical depression are said to resist treatment at similar rates. And when it comes to the African American community, many have a tough time even admitting that they may have a mental illness.

"We actually encourage people with milder forms of depression to get out and be social, and if they are ready, enter a romantic relationship," says Jordan. "It's nothing they have to shy away from." 

Those suffering from more severe cases of depression may want to be more cautious.

"I think people who are battling bigger forms may not want to enter a relationship until they deal with their issues and get some treatment for that," says Jordan. "It's similar to people with substance abuse issues, we advise them not to make any  major decisions when you're still recovering. We want you to allow yourself time to heal and get skills on how to deal with your issue."

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