Understanding the Mental Health Problems of Children and Adolescents : A Guide for Social Workers

Understanding Mental Health Problems of Children and Adolescents is a practical guide to identifying, diagnosing, and treating mental health and substance abuse challenges in children and adolescents. In the book, Kirstin Painter and Maria Scannapieco take on ADHD, childhood trauma, anxiety disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, the spectrum of schizophrenia, psychosis, and substance abuse. For each of these, they provide definitions as well as early signs of detection, symptoms, diagnoses, and even treatment options. In doing this, they emphasize the importance of working with youth and caregivers and why social workers should address mental health issues like these using a strengths- and trauma-informed perspective.