Mental disorders of childhood and adolescence

Children and adolescents cannot simply be considered as ‘little adults’. Within the field of mental health there are distinct differences between early life and adulthood. In recognition of the specific needs of children and young people, youth services (including mental health services) often extend their age range to include young adults up to 25 years of age. This chapter introduces the field of child and adolescent mental health nursing. It explores the role of nurses and, using case studies from clinical practice, provides examples of disorders experienced by children and adolescents. Furthermore, it describes interventions that nurses can implement to assist young people and their families.