Most Common Mental Illnesses in Boys

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The mental illnesses most common in boys are similar to those most common in girls. However there is a higher percentage of boys who are diagnosed with ADHD and learning disorders. These are four of the most common mental illnesses in teenage boys.

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ADHD

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Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is a conduct disorder that is very common in young boys. A 2010 study showed that 9.2% of 12–17 year olds were reported to have ADHD or a learning disorder.

Depression

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Many people face depression at some point in their life. It can be mistaken for stress, especially in adolescents. Approximately 5.7% of adolescents that had a major depressive episode in 2014 were male. Males are also less likely to seek help for their depression than females.

Anxiety

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Anxiety is another common mental illness amongst teen boys. A person with anxiety experiences a heightened sense of fear and awareness. Side effects of unmanaged anxiety include paranoia and panic attacks.

Substance Abuse

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Substance abuse and addiction becomes a mental illness when a person’s life is controlled by their need for drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse is commonly linked to conduct disorders, which roughly 3.4% of teens ages 12 to 17 are diagnosed with.