By Peter S. Jensen, M.D.

Thousands of youth across North Texas and the United States suffer from some sort of mental disorder. Studies have repeatedly shown that up to 75 percent of youth with mental health disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, anxiety and eating disorders are usually not identified. And if the problems aren’t diagnosed, they don’t receive the care they need.

After surveying more than 6,000 parents and children about mental health services in the United States during the past decade, Mayo Clinic researchers, along with U.S. government agencies and mental health organizations, partnered to create a solution that everyone can use. They created a mental health disorder “Action Signs” toolkit to help easily identify symptoms for youth who may be experiencing mental disorders so they are more likely to get the help they need.

This free toolkit will allow pediatricians, teachers and others who could help get the word out to families that we indeed can close the gap so the three out of four children with mental health disorders who aren’t identified do get identified.

The toolkit covers definitions, symptoms and recommended books to read for further information for conditions from anxiety to ADHD and eating disorders to suicide. Download a copy of The “Action Signs” Project.

Peter S. Jensen M.D. specializes in pediatric and adolescent medicine, psychiatry and psychology at Mayo Clinic and the lead investigator on the project.