Focus on Children鈥檚 Wellness: Children鈥檚 Mental Health Awareness Week
It鈥檚 normal for children to experience sadness, irritability and anxiety every now and then. Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether your child is dealing with standard day-to-day stressors, such as juggling homework, sports, and social activities, or if it鈥檚 something more serious.听听
In observance of Children鈥檚 Mental Health Awareness Week, 富二代成版人app is helping families understand common children鈥檚 mental health issues, along with signs to look out for and tips for when to get help.听
Mental Health Challenges Children Face
Children and teens faced many pressures throughout the , and some of the effects of school closures and isolation may have lingered. Additional factors impacting children鈥檚 mental health include:听
- Bullying and peer pressure听听
- Juggling school, sports and social activities听听
- Busy schedules that preclude adequate time for rest and relaxation听
- Pressure to achieve good grades听听
- Changing schools听
- Going through body changes听听
- Fears about climate change and other serious issues听
- Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, weight or disability听听
- Lack of stable housing and food听听
Not all of these challenges create long-lasting mental health issues for children and teens. There has been a lot of听evidence showing that in the face of traumatic events, most kids do really well, as children are resilient and adaptive.
It鈥檚 when persistent, serious changes in how children behave in ways that interfere with their normal daily activities that may be cause for concern.听听
How to Know If Your Child Is Struggling
As a parent or caregiver, you know your child best and understand what typical behavior looks like. Here are some signs that indicate your child may be having mental health challenges that go beyond ordinary daily stressors:听
- Loss of interest in the things they used to enjoy听
- Changes in sleep, weight or eating habits听
- Withdrawing from friends and family听
- Nightmares or other sleep disturbances听听
- Heightened anxiety or worry听
- Inability to relax听
- Difficulty controlling emotions听听
- Aggressive or stubborn behavior听听
Having one of the symptoms on this list doesn鈥檛 mean your child is experiencing a mental health crisis. typical of early and middle adolescence can affect your child鈥檚 moods and behavior. If you notice one or more of these signs and they persist over time, have a conversation with your child or talk to their pediatrician or another healthcare professional.听听
Most Common Mental Health Conditions in Children听
According to the , attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in children. Among U.S. children aged 3 to 17:听
- ADHD affects approximately 6 million children. Children with ADHD might experience trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors or have difficulty getting along with others.听听听
- Anxiety affects approximately 5.8 million children. Anxiety in children may manifest as excessive worry and fear that interferes with school, home or play activities, or physical symptoms such as fatigue, trouble sleeping or headaches.听
- Depression affects approximately 2.7 million children. Children with depression may experience changes in eating and sleeping patterns, feel sad or hopeless, have difficulty paying attention, or exhibit self-destructive behavior.听听
Other mental health conditions that affect children include eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).听
What to Do If Your Child Is Having Thoughts of Suicide听
Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety are significant risk factors for suicide. Other risk factors include social pressure relating to sexual orientation or gender identity, bullying, racism, alcohol and substance use, easy access to guns, and family experiences such as divorce, deployment, incarceration or unstable housing.听
If your child is experiencing mental health challenges that get in the way of normal day-to-day activities and functioning, open a conversation with them about what they鈥檙e going through. Talking about suicide won鈥檛 increase the risk your child will attempt it.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a myth that the more you talk about suicide, the more likely the鈥痯erson will end up thinking about it,鈥 says Cori Green, M.D., M.S., Vice Chair of Behavioral Health in the Department of Pediatrics and associate professor of clinical pediatrics at 富二代成版人app, and associate attending pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian Phyllis and David Komansky Children's Hospital at 富二代成版人app Medical Center. 鈥淥pening鈥 the 鈥痙oor to have a conversation about suicide can be protective.鈥濃听
You can also raise your concerns with your child鈥檚 pediatrician during a well-child visit. If your child is in immediate danger, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text 鈥淭ALK鈥 to 741741.听听
How to Talk to Your Child About Mental Health听听
Mental health issues can still carry a stigma, so it鈥檚 important to let your child know that they can talk to you about how they鈥檙e feeling, and that you love and support them no matter what. Assure them that everyone struggles occasionally and that help is available.听听听
When talking to your child about their mental health, the recommends:听
- Comparing mental health concerns to physical conditions to reduce stigma听
- Discussing self-care and prevention听
- Letting your child know their condition is not their fault听
- Validating their experiences听
- Checking in with them about suicidal thoughts.听听
鈥淚t's important for parents to know that anxiety is a normal part of life but to keep an eye out for when anxiety or mood symptoms are crossing that threshold for their children,鈥 says Shannon Bennett, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist, assistant professor of psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at 富二代成版人app, and director of psychology for the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian/富二代成版人app Medical Center. 鈥When kids are starting to withdraw or avoid meaningful life activities, that's a time to talk to your doctor, find a therapist, or seek additional assessment or help.鈥听
To make an appointment to discuss your child鈥檚 mental health, find a doctor at 富二代成版人app who can help.听听