Mental illnesses are often difficult to treat. They do not just affect individuals, they are rooted within communities and affect many other aspects of individuals? social and physical lives as well. This book examines mental health specifically in adolescents, exploring how mental illnesses interface with communities, schools, families, and peers. It also explores the connotations for educators, social workers, medical professionals, and public policymakers. The various sections cover the following topics:

? The interactions of adolescent mental health with the broader cultural and socioeconomic communities

? The interactions of the educational community on adolescent mental health

? The impact of peer and family relationships on adolescent mental health

? Case studies of successful community interventions

This accessible reference volume offers a comprehensive guide to the multifaceted field of adolescent mental health. Edited by a physician at Boston Children?s Hospital, this book is an important resource for educators, parents, social workers, researchers, clinicians, public policy makers, and all who wish to understand the complex interactions involved in comprehending and treating mental health disease in young people.