Effects of Poor Mental Health Education on Children

Simple science, basic mathematics, and communication skills are taught to children during the earliest years of education to establish a strong academic foundation. From there, these foundational skills are continuously compounded throughout a child’s academic career, preparing them with the knowledge they’ll need for professional success in adulthood.

Introducing children to such academic disciplines at an early age has been proven to aid in strong brain development and overall well-being, illuminating the importance of effective early childhood education and its impact on adulthood.¹

However, the curricula taught in many of today’s traditional academic programs do not include instruction that helps young learners understand mental health. Without effective mental health support and education in schools, many children do not realize the importance of or the tools available to help them in strengthening their emotional intelligence.

Mental health in education has not typically been included in traditional early childhood curricula, although these skills are equally important in preparing children for success in adulthood. Arcadia University is seeking to end this exception with the online Graduate Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health.

This online certificate program is designed for diverse professionals who work with young children in daycare, early childhood development, and school settings. Through just four courses, this program delivers the expertise to prepare children to address and overcome mental health challenges in adolescence and adulthood.

Years after the COVID-19 pandemic sparked panic worldwide, the American education system is still recovering from its impact. Mental health concerns grew drastically among students in nearly 70% of schools with the initial pandemic lockdowns of 2020.²

According to research conducted from 2022 to 2023 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21% of children ages 3-17 have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Of these diagnoses in children ages 3-5, 2.3% have anxiety, and 5% have behavioral disorders.³

Poor infant and toddler mental health can lead to greater issues as children grow into adulthood. Mental health disorders typically become more prevalent in older children ages 12-17, with 16% having anxiety, 6.8% having behavioral disorders, and nearly 9% having depression.³

This research also shows that 55% of children who live in the United States have discussed their mental health with a professional in a private setting, yet 20% have not received the mental health support they need.³

Without effective mental health education and support resources, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression can lead to poor academic performance, greater health issues, and even suicide, which was the cause of 49,000 deaths in 2023 alone.⁴

This growing concern led the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) to declare a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health in 2021. To combat and prevent the long-lasting impacts of poor mental health in children, the AAP suggests more funding and access to mental health care in schools in the form of on-site diagnostics and mental health education.⁵

Mental and behavioral health disorders aren’t the only consequence of poor infant and toddler mental health education. Negative consequences exist for learning outcomes, social relationships, and professional success as well.

Let’s examine some of the other ways in which poor infant and toddler mental health and lack of mental health in education overall can impact children throughout the lifespan:

With the right skillset, educators have the power to influence positive mental health in education and make a lifelong impact on young learners. Arcadia University’s online Graduate Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health delivers the skills to set children up for success in every aspect of their lives, all the way through adulthood.

With Arcadia, you can learn to address atypical development for children in diverse cultures and spot early signs of mental and behavioral disorders in early childhood. You’ll gain career-ready skills for intervention techniques, fostering healthy coping strategies, and collaborating with the families of children with mental and behavioral disorders.

Each course is taught online by expert faculty who provide one-on-one attention to every student. Through just four courses and convenient practicum opportunities, you can prepare for real-world change and take the next step in your career in as little as one year.

Discover what you can achieve in your career with Arcadia University and apply to the online Graduate Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health today.

You may also be interested in these other online graduate certificates from Arcadia: