Recognizing Mental Health Issues in Children: Signs & Support

One in five children in the U.S. lives with some type of mental-health issue, according to Mental Health America, a nonprofit advocacy organization. Unfortunately, less than two-thirds of them receives treatment, according to the same organization. Without help, children with mental-health issues have an increased risk of, for example, failure in school, getting in legal trouble or attempting suicide. There are signs to look for to identify mental problems in children and ways to determine the best methods to help them.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch for behavioral signs that may indicate a mental-health problem. Possible indicators include hyperactivity, anxiety, refusal to participate in activities or attend school, persistent nightmares, aggression, disobedience, temper tantrums, sadness, irritability and isolation. Parents and family members are usually first to notice problems in a child. Early intervention is critical to treatment.

• 2

  Seek medical help. If a child regularly displays these signs, make an appointment with your pediatrician or family physician for medical testing to determine if a physical condition might be contributing to the symptoms.

• 3

  Consult a mental health professional. If there is no underlying physical cause for the problems, seek psychological testing to identify the specific type of mental disorder that might be at the heart of the child's problems. The most common childhood mental illnesses and developmental disorders include depression, autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, bipolar and anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, oppositional defiant disorders and conduct disorders. In order to receive the proper treatment, it's important that the child is accurately diagnosed.

• 4

  Create a treatment plan with the guidance of your doctor or mental-health professional. The doctor might recommend psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and in some instances prescribe medication. Be involved in the treatment program and keep the child involved, if possible, in the decision-making process.