YOUR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH: WHEN & WHERE TO SEEK HELP
When to Seek Help
Let your doctor child’s doctor know if he has one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
- Poor or delayed language development
- Problems listening or behaving
- Trouble sitting still (hyperactivity)
- Problems concentrating
- Trouble with friends and other children
- Is very moody (always seems to be sad, irritable, or grumpy)
- Poor sleep (can’t sleep well or sleeps too much)
- Disordered eating (eats too much or too little)
- Worries a lot or seems afraid very often
- Is very shy and avoids people
- Can become very angry and violent
- Seems afraid of school
- Thoughts of suicide/self-harm
- Uses alcohol or drugs
- Does things on purpose to get in trouble
- Sudden change in behavior
- Sudden drop in grades
- Loss of interest in usual activities
Who is at risk?
In the United States, 1 in 10 children and teens has serious emotional and behavior problems. Many others have symptoms that may lead to problems that are more serious if not treated.
Almost always, no one is to blame for a child’s mental or behavioral problems. However, certain family situations may increase a child’s risk for these behaviors, incuding:
- Family stress such as a move, job loss, birth of a baby, or long absence of a loved one
- Chronic (long-term) sickness or medical condition in the child or other family member
- Grief and loss caused by death, parents separating, or divorce
- Remarriage and stepparenting
- Physical or sexual abuse, either within or outside the family
- Foster care
- Problems with schoolwork
- A lot of peer pressure
- Alcohol or drug problems within the family
Where to Seek Help
Your child’s doctor can help you choose the best type of care for your child. Also important are the involvement of and support from the entire family.
Mental and behavioral health specialists include the following:
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists are medical doctors trained to diagnose and provide a full range of treatment for emotional and behavioral problems, as well as psychiatric disorders. They can prescribe medication if needed. Child and adolescent psychiatrists also have additional training beyond other physicians in treating children, teens, and families.
- Child psychologists are licensed doctoral (PhD)-level specialists trained to diagnose and give psychological tests. They are trained to treat learning, behavioral, and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders, and adjustment problems related to medical illnesses. Some have expertise in caring for children and teens.
- Master’s-level psychologists or mental health counselors are master’s-level specialists trained to give psychological tests. They also counsel individuals and families.
- School psychologists are doctoral or master’s-degree specialists who work with children at school. They evaluate and counsel children with learning, emotional, and behavioral problems.
- Licensed clinical social workers are master’s- or doctoral-trained specialists who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral health problems. They also counsel children and families. Licensed clinical social workers help families deal with physical, mental, or emotional illness and disability. They may teach problem-solving and coping skills.
- Developmental-behavioral pediatricians are trained to help children with developmental, learning, emotional, and behavioral problems. They help children and families manage problems that involve childhood illness or disability. Developmental-behavioral pediatricians can prescribe medicine, if needed, and typically work with other doctors and counselors to meet families’ needs.
- Adolescent medicine specialists are medical doctors with additional training in the care of teens and their families. They help teens and families with common teen problems such as eating disorders, alcohol and drug use, depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
- Child neurologists are licensed doctors trained to diagnose and treat children with problems of the nervous system. They assist in determining whether a child has a brain condition that affects learning and behavior and what treatment is best. Child neurologists can prescribe medicine and have experience prescribing medicines for brain conditions and behavioral problems.
How to Talk to Your Child About Therapy
Your child may not want to see another doctor or counselor. He may feel fearful, embarrassed, or defensive about his problems (“It’s not my fault” or “I’m not crazy, am I?”).
It’s important to talk with your child before his first visit to a new doctor or mental health or behavioral specialist. If your child’s doctor has made the referral, talk with your child about this at the doctor’s office or at home later. How much information your child needs and when you will share it will depend on his age and maturity. A younger child will only need a little information, 1 to 2 days before the appointment, to reduce “worry time.”
Your teen may need more information. Let him know that you are aware of his struggles, and tell him that counseling will make his life easier. For instance, he’ll get along better with friends and classmates and experience less stress, fear, and other symptoms. Make sure he knows that the doctor or counselor understands how important privacy is to him and will discuss this at the first visit.
It is important that your child not feel that the problem is his alone or his fault. Let him know that the entire family will support him and help him get well. Sometimes counseling can and should begin with the entire family, not the child alone. This may be especially helpful if your child is resistant. In any case, it’s usually best to talk about the appointment as something that will happen. If you ask if he “would like to go,” he may feel he has the chance to refuse.
Tell your child that seeking help is a great sign of strength. Let him know that behavioral and mental health professionals don’t solve problems; instead, they build on a person’s strengths, empowering them to manage their own problems.
If the Doctor Recommends Medicine…
Medicines, if necessary, should be part of a treatment plan that includes education and counseling children and their parents. Children taking medicine should check in with the doctor often to make sure the treatment is working. Always talk with your doctor about risks and benefits of medication.
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
AAP Feed run on: 9/8/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/8/2024
YOUR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH: WHEN & WHERE TO SEEK HELP
When to Seek Help
Let your doctor child’s doctor know if he has one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
- Poor or delayed language development
- Problems listening or behaving
- Trouble sitting still (hyperactivity)
- Problems concentrating
- Trouble with friends and other children
- Is very moody (always seems to be sad, irritable, or grumpy)
- Poor sleep (can’t sleep well or sleeps too much)
- Disordered eating (eats too much or too little)
- Worries a lot or seems afraid very often
- Is very shy and avoids people
- Can become very angry and violent
- Seems afraid of school
- Thoughts of suicide/self-harm
- Uses alcohol or drugs
- Does things on purpose to get in trouble
- Sudden change in behavior
- Sudden drop in grades
- Loss of interest in usual activities
Who is at risk?
In the United States, 1 in 10 children and teens has serious emotional and behavior problems. Many others have symptoms that may lead to problems that are more serious if not treated.
Almost always, no one is to blame for a child’s mental or behavioral problems. However, certain family situations may increase a child’s risk for these behaviors, incuding:
- Family stress such as a move, job loss, birth of a baby, or long absence of a loved one
- Chronic (long-term) sickness or medical condition in the child or other family member
- Grief and loss caused by death, parents separating, or divorce
- Remarriage and stepparenting
- Physical or sexual abuse, either within or outside the family
- Foster care
- Problems with schoolwork
- A lot of peer pressure
- Alcohol or drug problems within the family
Where to Seek Help
Your child’s doctor can help you choose the best type of care for your child. Also important are the involvement of and support from the entire family.
Mental and behavioral health specialists include the following:
- Child and adolescent psychiatrists are medical doctors trained to diagnose and provide a full range of treatment for emotional and behavioral problems, as well as psychiatric disorders. They can prescribe medication if needed. Child and adolescent psychiatrists also have additional training beyond other physicians in treating children, teens, and families.
- Child psychologists are licensed doctoral (PhD)-level specialists trained to diagnose and give psychological tests. They are trained to treat learning, behavioral, and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders, and adjustment problems related to medical illnesses. Some have expertise in caring for children and teens.
- Master’s-level psychologists or mental health counselors are master’s-level specialists trained to give psychological tests. They also counsel individuals and families.
- School psychologists are doctoral or master’s-degree specialists who work with children at school. They evaluate and counsel children with learning, emotional, and behavioral problems.
- Licensed clinical social workers are master’s- or doctoral-trained specialists who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral health problems. They also counsel children and families. Licensed clinical social workers help families deal with physical, mental, or emotional illness and disability. They may teach problem-solving and coping skills.
- Developmental-behavioral pediatricians are trained to help children with developmental, learning, emotional, and behavioral problems. They help children and families manage problems that involve childhood illness or disability. Developmental-behavioral pediatricians can prescribe medicine, if needed, and typically work with other doctors and counselors to meet families’ needs.
- Adolescent medicine specialists are medical doctors with additional training in the care of teens and their families. They help teens and families with common teen problems such as eating disorders, alcohol and drug use, depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
- Child neurologists are licensed doctors trained to diagnose and treat children with problems of the nervous system. They assist in determining whether a child has a brain condition that affects learning and behavior and what treatment is best. Child neurologists can prescribe medicine and have experience prescribing medicines for brain conditions and behavioral problems.
How to Talk to Your Child About Therapy
Your child may not want to see another doctor or counselor. He may feel fearful, embarrassed, or defensive about his problems (“It’s not my fault” or “I’m not crazy, am I?”).
It’s important to talk with your child before his first visit to a new doctor or mental health or behavioral specialist. If your child’s doctor has made the referral, talk with your child about this at the doctor’s office or at home later. How much information your child needs and when you will share it will depend on his age and maturity. A younger child will only need a little information, 1 to 2 days before the appointment, to reduce “worry time.”
Your teen may need more information. Let him know that you are aware of his struggles, and tell him that counseling will make his life easier. For instance, he’ll get along better with friends and classmates and experience less stress, fear, and other symptoms. Make sure he knows that the doctor or counselor understands how important privacy is to him and will discuss this at the first visit.
It is important that your child not feel that the problem is his alone or his fault. Let him know that the entire family will support him and help him get well. Sometimes counseling can and should begin with the entire family, not the child alone. This may be especially helpful if your child is resistant. In any case, it’s usually best to talk about the appointment as something that will happen. If you ask if he “would like to go,” he may feel he has the chance to refuse.
Tell your child that seeking help is a great sign of strength. Let him know that behavioral and mental health professionals don’t solve problems; instead, they build on a person’s strengths, empowering them to manage their own problems.
If the Doctor Recommends Medicine…
Medicines, if necessary, should be part of a treatment plan that includes education and counseling children and their parents. Children taking medicine should check in with the doctor often to make sure the treatment is working. Always talk with your doctor about risks and benefits of medication.
Adapted from information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
AAP Feed run on: 9/8/2024 Article information last modified on: 9/8/2024
