Child Mental Health
It's important to recognize and treat mental illnesses in children early on. Once mental illness develops, it becomes a regular part of your child's behavior. This makes it more difficult to treat.
However, it's not always easy to know when your child has a serious problem. Everyday stresses can cause changes in your child's behavior. For example, getting a new sibling or going to a new school may cause a child to temporarily act out. Warning signs that it might be a more serious problem include
- Problems in more than one setting (at school, at home, with peers)
- Changes in appetite or sleep
- Social withdrawal or fear of things they used to not be afraid of
- Returning to behaviors more common in younger children, such as bedwetting
- Signs of being upset, such as sadness or tearfulness
- Signs of self-destructive behavior, such as banging their head or suddenly getting hurt often
- Repeated thoughts of death
To diagnose mental health problems, the doctor or mental health specialist looks at your child's signs and symptoms, medical history, and family history. Treatments include medicines and talk therapy.
Child Behavior Disorders (Also Called Conduct Disorders)
All kids misbehave sometimes, and some may have temporary behavior problems due to stress. For example, the birth of a sibling, a divorce, or a death in the family may cause a child to act out. Behavior disorders are more serious. They involve a pattern of hostile, aggressive, or disruptive behaviors for more than six months. The behavior is also not appropriate for the child's age.
Warning signs can include
- Harming or threatening themselves, other people, or pets
- Damaging or destroying property
- Lying or stealing
- Not doing well in school, or skipping school
- Early smoking, drinking, or drug use
- Early sexual activity
- Frequent tantrums and arguments
- Consistent hostility toward authority figures
If you see signs of a problem, ask for help. Poor choices can become habits. Kids who have behavior problems are at a higher risk for school failure, mental health problems, and even suicide. Classes or family therapy may help parents learn to set and enforce limits. Talk therapy and behavior therapy for your child can also help.
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), MedlinePlus. (Updated 2021, September 20 & August 10). Child mental health & Child behavior disorders. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://medlineplus.gov
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