Mental Health Notes

Mental Health Month Day 30 - Understand Your Child’s Mental Health

by Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes on May 30th, 2007

We can’t end the Mental Health Month tips without talking about children and mental health disorders.

Opinions about mental health conditions and children vary. Some folks believe parents and mental health care professionals are too quick to diagnose a child with a mental illness, while others believe child mental health disorders are left undiagnosed for the most part.

Diagnosing a child with a mental health condition can be tricky. Anyone with a teenager is all too aware of the mood swngs that accompany “growing up.” While we know children tend to go through “phases,” sometimes those “phases” are actually indicative of a more serious problem.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “one in ten children suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to cause some level of impairment.” The most common mental health disorders that affect children include depression, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and boderline personality disorder.

A parent doesn’t want to ignore a child’s mental health. At the same time, a parent doesn’t want to put their child through the stress of diagnosis, therapy, and possibly medication and side-effects if it’s actually not necessary.

So, how can parents tell the different between a “phase” and an actual mental health problem?

Only a mental health care professional can diagnose a mental health problem with your child. Even though it’s normal for children to develop at different rates and even differently than their peers do, if you suspect a problem with your child’s health you should take him or her to a doctor.

Ask your child’s babysitter, daycare or school teacher(s) if they have noticed any suspicious behavior from your child. You may also want to talk with any of your child’s friends’ parents about behavior patterns they’ve noticed in your child. Report these findings to your child’s doctor.

Symptoms to look for include problems paying attention, withdrawal, irrational fear, self-destruction, severe changes in appetite, and getting more than or less than enough sleep.

For further reading, I suggest checking out Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders, as well as the numerous articles Mental Health America provides for youth and families, many of which offer information about medication and children.

Were you diagnosed with a mental health condition as a child? Or has your child been diagnosed? Tell me about your experiences.

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POSTED IN: Anxiety Disorders, Childhood Disorders, Cognitive Disorders, Current Affairs & News, Daily Thoughts, Everyday Stress, Medications, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Psychotic Disorders, Resources, Sites of Interest, Tips