Importance and relevance
According to the World Health Organization (WHO,2002), mental health disorders are one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Three of the ten leading causes of disability in people between the ages of 15 and 44 are mental disorders, and the other causes are often associated with mental disorders. Both retrospective and prospective research has shown that most adulthood mental disorders begin in childhood and adolescence (Kessler et al,2007). This highlights the importance of gaining understanding of the magnitude, risk factors, and progression of mental disorders in youth.
Facts and figures
About 20% of the world's have mental disorder and about half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14 .Yet regions of the world with the highest population under the age of 19 have the poorest level of mental health resources and most low income and middle-income countries have only one child psychiatrist for every 1 to 4 million people.(W.H.O,2014)
Mental and substance use disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide and about 23% of all years lost due to disability is cause by mental and substance use disorder.(W.H.O,2014)
Young people with mental disorders, in general, are more vulnerable to involvement in risky activities that jeopardize their health and well-being than are young people in the larger adolescent population ( Kapphahn,2006) .Suicide attempts and self-injury are the most dire of these threats, but other troublesome behaviours warrant scrutiny as well. Over 800 000 people die due to suicide on a yearly basis ,thus making of suicide the second leading cause of death amongst the 15 to 29 years old and 75% of suicides(W.H.O,2014)
Misunderstanding and stigmatisation surrounding mental ill health. in spite of the availability of effective treatment, it is generally believed that that most mental illnesses are untreatable or that people with mental disorders are difficult or not intelligent .This situation can lead to abuse ,rejection and isolation (W.H.O,2014).
Causes of Mental Illness
In many cases, mental illness may result from biological and environmental interactions. Predisposition for disorders are in some cases genetically heritable and may be activated by particular environments (Pickler, 2005). Environmental factors that lead to chemical imbalances in the body or damage to the central nervous system may also create biological vulnerabilities. When these vulnerabilities are coupled with environmental conditions high in chaos and low in security and safety (such as exposure to violence, including witnessing or being the victim of abuse; stress related to chronic poverty, discrimination, or other serious hardship; and the loss of important people through death, divorce, or broken relationships), mental disorders may result (Perry, 2002).
What are the warning signs of mental disorders?
Adolescents are biologically prone to have mood swings because of the hormonal changes associated with this period in life, coupled with the fact that their brains are still developing .It therefore appears that not all mental disorders among adolescents have obvious or reliable symptoms hence, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders should be alert to some warning signs that an adolescent may be in trouble. These signs include persistent irritability, anger, or social withdrawal, as well as major changes in appetite or sleep.(Burnland,J ,2001)
Consequences of mental disorder
The single most disturbing potential consequence of adolescent mental disorders is suicide the third leading cause of death among 10 to 24-year-olds (W.H.O,2014).
Mental disorders may take contribute significantly to health care costs. The consequences can have damaging effects in the long run or during adulthood if the mental disorders is not diagnosed during adolescence (Knopf et al,2008)
Substance abuse disorders frequently go hand in hand with mental disorders.4
In addition, mental disorders are often associated with other negative emotional and behavioural patterns in adolescence including: impaired relationships, low academic performance, High risk teen pregnancy, and increased involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Which are the types of mental disorders most common among adolescents?
Many adolescent mental disorders fall under the broad categories of:
Mood disorders ( depression and bipolar disorder);
Behavioural disorders ( aggression, destruction of property, and some problems of attention and hyperactivity);
Anxiety disorders (including social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and phobias).(Knopf et al,2008) Many adolescents with mental disorders have symptoms indicative of more than one disorder.
Literature review : Definition and importance
“you joining the conversation –first by listening to what is being said and then formulating a comment designed to advance the dialogue.” – Bloomberg and Volpe, 2008
A literature review is a synopsis of other research. Moreover, it is a critical appraisal of other research on a given topic that helps to put that topic in context (Machi and McEvoy, 2009).
According to Sekaran (2010), literature review can be defined as a broad documentation review by which published and unpublished work from secondary data in the areas of a particular interest to the researcher. It discusses the importance of the subject, the type of theory or method used in the research and as well as to provide with the background and history of a particular area.
The purpose of the literature review is to draw on and critique previous studies in an orderly, precise and analytical manner. In addition, a good review will extract and critically evaluate the pertinent findings and issues that have emerged from previous work (Hart, 2010).
Importance of Cormarks model
Benton and Cormack critique model is straight forward, succinct and precise, it is simple and brief. It practically applicable and easy to use the framework is easy to follow and understand, it is easy and helpful. the structure of the frame work is academically rich to help student understand research process it is important because it can be use in both qualitative and quantitative research.
Cormack model is an academic model that is use to identify areas in a research that be question, to identify relevant materials that are available in articles to critically appraise the evidence for validity and to implement the existing information to a further research on similar study
Strategies and approaches to reduce mental health disorders among adolescents recommendations include:
Promoting early identification of mental health needs and access to quality services. Clinicians are key to identifying mental health needs, so integrating mental health care into traditional health care settings and social service, community, and school settings is important, especially for adolescents who have experienced trauma.
Reducing the stigma associated with mental health services. Doing so will improve access to and use of the effective mental health treatment that is available. (National Prevention Council,2010)