Your child's mental health
Does your child have a mental health problem?
When your child has a high fever, you get medical advice. Most likely, your
child soon will be back to his or her playful and rambunctious self. Mental
health problems can be more difficult to recognize. Worldwide, up to 20% of
children have diagnosable mental, emotional, or behaviour problems that can lead
to school failure, family discord, violence, or suicide. Help is available.
However, many children with mental health problems are not getting the help they
need.
Mental health is how we think, feel, and act. It's common for children to
feel sad or to behave badly from time to time. If you see troubling behaviours
that seem persistent and severe, it's time to take action. These questions can
help you:
· Does your child seem angry most of the time? Cry a lot? Overreact to
things?
· Does your child avoid friends or family? Want to be alone all the time? Seem
to have lost interest in things usually enjoyed?
· Does your child destroy property, break the law, or do things that are life
threatening? Often hurt animals or other people? Seem not to care when you
explain that this behaviour is harmful? Use alcohol or other drugs?
· Is your child extremely fearful? Having unexplained fears or worrying more
than other young people?
· Is your child limited by poor concentration? Suddenly having trouble making
decisions? Grades showing a marked decline?
· Is your child obsessed about how he/she looks? Experiencing unexplained
changes in sleeping or eating habits? Often complaining about headaches,
stomachaches, or other physical problems?
· Does your child feel that life is too hard to handle or talk about suicide?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, talk to your family
doctor or pediatrician about your child's feelings and behaviour. Discuss how
your child may have been affected by recent major changes in your family or
community. Together, you may decide that your child and family need help from
someone with more mental health training. Parents, teachers, and other care
providers can work together to build on your family's strengths. All families
have strengths.
Maybe your family strengths are shared during a community function that you
attend regularly. A family activity like cooking together may provide a time to
experience both good communication and good food. Bonds may be strengthened and
skills developed in the ways you encourage your child's interest in activities
like baseball, science, or being a helpful neighbor. Building on your family's
strengths can provide the support your child and family need to succeed.
More information:
Source: Reprinted from "Your Child's Mental Health: What's up Doc?"
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental
Health Services.
Rockville, MD. May 2002.
World Federation for Mental Health www.wmhday.net
Related links:
World mental health day 2003 focuses on adolescents
and children
Entomophobia -
forensic science plays its part
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