Children Mental Health

Taking good care of your child’s mental health is extremely important for their safety, personal growth, and a healthy future. 

Usually, many people tend to ignore the importance of children’s mental health, resulting in devastating consequences. CAMH states 1 in 5 individuals experience a mental illness or an addiction issue.   CAMH states 70% of mental health problems begin during childhood. Here, we will focus on common children’s mental health issues and how to find the teenage psychologists near you for help.

Different Symptoms of Children Mental Disorders

Mental disorders are common in children and teens. These disorders may cause problems in handling emotions, behavior, and thoughts. Some of the common problems have been listed below with a brief explanation:

1. Anxiety isn’t only common among adults. Due to the fast-paced and demanding life of the world we live in, children begin to experience symptoms of anxiety. Check for children’s psychologists near you to find support if your child is suffering from anxiety.
2. Teenagers are prone to depressive episodes due to numerous issues. Their complicated life challenges, their hormonal imbalances, combined with ever changing life complexities can contribute to teenage depression. Checking out for child psychologists near you will help you find the proper treatment for your child’s depression.
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are becoming more common in children and young adults. Symptoms may start early. They may worsen over time if not treated properly. The best solution is to check for a children’s psychologist near you to treat your child and nip the evil in the bud.
4. Other mental disorders found in children can lead to an adult life of mental illness and suffering. Keep in touch with a children’s psychologist near you if any symptoms of mental health disorders start to surface in your child.

How can parents protect their child’s mental health?

There are numerous ways in which familial problems and a lack of parenting awareness and knowledge can lead to children’s mental health issues. If your family is suffering from any of the issues listed below, book an appointment with your nearest children’s behavioral psychologist to protect your child’s mental health.

1. Parents being unsupportive of their children may create fear and distrust in their children. With time, children may prefer keeping their worries and anxieties to themselves instead of sharing them to avoid letting their parents know about their issues.
2. If the family is suffering financially, the children may be forced to place the family’s needs before their own needs. Some children tend to hide their anxiety and depression to avoid creating further problems for their parents.
3. Parents may not understand the exact problem being faced by their children. Parents are not able to diagnose their child’s mental health problem(s). Do not waste any time. Contact a teen psychologist near you and get them formally diagnosed.

Some parenting skills to protect children’s mental health are as follows:

1. Accept the difficulties you face in parenting and do not shy away from taking formal help from a child psychologist near you if your child is suffering from a mental illness.
2. Always be consistent in your parenting. Excessive mood swings may cause your children to fear sharing issues and problems with you.
3. The psychologist alone cannot solve the problem. Community support through proper care organizations and support groups can play a vital role in mediating your child’s mental health.
4. Provide clear information to your children about their mental health to understand the issues. Take the advice of a child psychologist near you to be certain of which information must be shared. They will inform you of the best approach to addressing the specific challenges.
5. Be someone your children can talk to in case they are facing a mental issue.
6. Visits to your child’s  pediatrician, family doctor or  local hospital are ideal  methods to  connect your child with appropriate services. This will protect your child’s mental health in the long term. Mental health is just like physical health: illnesses may occur, and proper treatment by a trained child’s practitioner or behavioral psychologist will help your child get back on track.

Conclusion and recommendations:

If you suspect that your child is facing any mental health issue(s), do not waste time. Instead, get in contact with a trained children’s psychologist near you and have your child diagnosed and treated  with  therapy. Try and have open communication with your child so that they are comfortable sharing their issues with you. With proper care, your child’s mental health can be supported and they can begin to live their lives with less distress and return to being themselves.