Prevention, early intervention, and mental health promotion can help assure the health of young children and adolescents. There are several core concepts behind the science of prevention and promotion:

Prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders requires a shift in focus. Instead of addressing a disorder after it occurs, prevention means supporting the healthy development of young people starting at birth. Mental health and physical health go hand in hand. Young people who grow up in good physical health are likely to also have good mental health; similarly, good mental health contributes to good physical health. Successful prevention must involve many different groups, including informed parents, professional educators (e.g., elementary school teachers), as well as mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals. Promotion of mental health is essential throughout a young persons developmental life cycle from the earliest years of life through adolescence and young adulthood as well as in a variety of settings such as families, schools, neighborhoods, and communities.

What is mental, emotional, and behavioral health?

Mental, emotional, and behavioral health refers to the overall psychological well-being of individuals and includes the presence of positive characteristics, such as the ability to manage stress, demonstrate flexibility under changing conditions, and bounce back from adverse situations.

Factors that Impact the Healthy Development of Young People

Exposure to risk and protective factors affects the healthy development and mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of young people. Risk factors are conditions or characteristics that put an individual at greater risk for a specific health problem or disorder. Protective factors are personal traits or conditions in families and communities that, when present, contribute to an individuals well-being. While protective factors can make people resilient to mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, risk factors can be detrimental to mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being. Some risk factors include:

Negative experiences when communicating with others in the home. An inability to confide in at least one close family member. The absence of positive role models. Loneliness or a perceived lack of safety, isolation, confusion and abuse. Experiencing trauma or serious loss, such as the death of a parent or other traumatic experience, especially early in life. Failing to maintain good physical health; physical and mental health are closely intertwined, and poor physical health can lead to the development of serious mental health issues. Alcohol and drug abuse increases the risk of mental health problems and can make pre-existing problems worse, and vice versa.

What Communities Can Do

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Promotion of Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Well-Being