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As a parent, how can you tell when your kid’s distress and fears are more than just the ups and downs of growing up?

This blog aims to list a few signs of psychiatric disorders in small kids and teens, as well as certain steps parents can take when they notice their child is suffering from anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc.

What You Will Learn:

• How can you determine whether your kid has a mental health condition
• What distinguishes mental health illnesses from everyday challenges?

The warning indications for mental disorders are usually distinguished from non-problematic behavior by the duration, whether it affects a kid’s functioning, or whether it affects others.

A team of psychiatric professionals, concerned at the number of kids suffering from undiagnosed mental disorders, has put together a list of signs that a child might be dealing with a mental health disorder.

The purpose is to make it simpler for parents, teachers, pediatricians, and other caregivers who work with kids to recognize when children or adolescents need medical attention. The list aims to make it easier to separate warning signs of disorders from usual moodiness and frequent disruptive behavior such as defiance, aggression, and impulsivity.

The team, led by Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Peter Jensen, MD, tested the list against kids who had been diagnosed with mental illnesses, in order to find out if it would have predicted their disorders. Here’s the list:

• Enduring a two-week period of extreme sadness or withdrawal.
• Attempting to injure or kill oneself or making serious arrangements to do so.
• Overwhelming fear that comes on suddenly and for no apparent reason, often with a racing heart or fast breathing.
• Frequent fights, with the use of a weapon, or a strong desire to hurt other people.
• Severe, uncontrollable behavior that sudden, overpowering fear puts others or oneself at danger.
• To lose weight, they may stop eating, vomit, or take laxatives.
• Intense phobias or worries that interfere with daily tasks.
• Extreme trouble focusing or remaining motionless, which puts them in danger or results in academic failure.
• Frequent drug or alcohol use.
• Extreme mood changes that strain relationships.
• Drastic changes in behavior, personality, or mood.

Final Thoughts

We keep an eye out for any signs of illness in our kids, and take them to the doctor at the very first sign of a cough or sniffle.

What about illnesses that are less obvious to the eye?

I am talking about mental health.

Sadly, people with mental health issues are not just adults; they can also be kids. In most illnesses, early detection is crucial, and this is also true for mental health. The sooner you can identify the issue and give the kids the appropriate care, the better.

The best thing a parent can do is speak with their child’s doctor if they believe their child has a problem that could affect their mental health. It is crucial to note that the aforementioned symptoms do not always mean that there is a problem, but they may call for a brief visit and discussion with the family doctor. No one can ever lose by talking!

There is a whole range of books out there that you can purchase to identify these signs early. For more on how to be aware of your child’s behaviors, click here to get a copy of our best-selling book “The Art of Parenting Children With Mental Health Challenges”.