Assessing the Mental Health Needs of Your Children

Mental health problems can develop at any point in life and may be influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, chemical imbalances of the brain, or stressors in the environment. Adolescence is a time of great change and transition, when youth are starting to make decisions about career paths, further schooling and living on their own. These stressors along with changing friends, moving from family, can cause mental health issues to become prominent. It is important to recognize the symptoms of mental health issues like depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety disorders so that interventions can be made to stabilize the child that is experiencing the duress.

Symptoms of Depression

• Feeling sad, anxious, or irritable.
• Feeling hopeless or worthless.
• A loss of interest in activities or hobbies.
• A loss of energy and concentration.
• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns.
• Suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Extreme and unrealistic worry about daily events.
• Extreme feelings of self-consciousness, tenseness and needs of assurance.
• Pyschosomatic symptoms of headaches, stomaches or other discomforts.
• Panic attacks - periods of intense fear that usually involve a pounding heatbeat, sweating, dizziness, nausea, or feeling of imminent death.

Becoming aware of this symptoms and changes in behaviors can help you as a parent give your child the support they are needing in a time of crisis.

Best wishes,

Gina