ABSTRACT
It is widely recognized that the incidence of complex mental health problems is increasing among children and young people (Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of Health 2008, 2009, 2010; Department of Health 2011; Patton et al. 2014; Welsh Government 2012). It can be argued that psychological pressures on young people have increased, with high value being placed on academic achievement, personal success and material acquisition; all of these can oppress children and young people, affecting their mental health as they strive to cope with their development and fit into a modern society which can appear toxic to their well-being. Health professionals have a heightened awareness and knowledge of such issues and so diagnosis, support and interventions can be offered at an earlier stage than was done so previously. This is pertinent to the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in which early diagnosis and intervention ensure that timely support is offered to the child, young person and their family. It is this early recognition and support which is a key issue for all children’s nurses and those working with children and young people who have mental health problems. It is imperative that children and young people’s nurses have insight and knowledge of complex mental health problems and their causative and contributory factors so that sensitive care can be delivered and the appropriate support offered to enable the child and young person to cope and develop positive mental health (Price et al. 2014; Royal College of Nursing [RCN] 2014a, 2014b).
