Fourth Edition, September 2011

More information
Websites
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/the_depressed_child
National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/depression-in-children-and-adolescents.shtml
Mood Disorders Canada
www.mooddisorderscanada.ca
Books
More Than Moody: Recognizing and Treating Adolescent Depression
Harold Koplewicz, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (2002) ISBN-13: 978-0399529122
Lonely, Sad and Angry: How to help your unhappy child
Barabara Ingersoll and Sam Goldstein, Specialty Press/A.D.D. Warehouse (2001) ISBN-13: 978-
1886941458
Books for Young People
What’s Your Mood: A Good Day, Bad Day, In-Between Day Book
Kimberly Potts, Adams Media Corporation (2004) ISBN-13: 978-1593372170

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E 1
Attention Problems
Making a Diff erence: An Educators’ Guide to Child and Youth Mental Health Problems
www.cymhin.ca
Attention Problems
Children can seem not to be paying attention when they should because they are daydreaming or are 
distracted by something going on in their life. They may run around simply because they have a lot of 
energy to burn.
Some children may appear not to have attention problems in some settings. In other settings, especially 
those in which it is more important to pay attention, such as school, they may have diffi
culty.
There is a small group of children, however, who continually have diffi
culty paying attention and staying 
still. Their behaviour gets them into trouble at home, at school, and in the neighborhood. It can aff ect 
their social skills and make it diffi
cult for them to make and keep friends. As a result, they can experi-
ence sadness and feelings of rejection. Their impulsive behaviour and lack of judgment may also bring 
them into confl ict with the law. These young people need to be seen by a health professional to fi nd out 
whether or not they have Attention Defi cit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Children with ADHD are at high risk of school failure. Many also have other psychiatric conditions. They 
may suff er from anxiety, mood problems, oppositional defi ant disorder (uncooperative and defiant be-
haviour) and conduct disorder (seriously aggressive behaviour that can include theft, bullying, and 
vandalism). They also have higher rates of alcohol, nicotine, and other drug abuse in adolescence, 
especially if their emotional and behavioural problems are not addressed.

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Making a Diff erence: An Educators’ Guide to Child and Youth Mental Health Problems
www.cymhin.ca
E 2
Attention Problems