When should I seek help for my child?
A question I get asked often is when should I seek mental health support for my child? Parents want the best for their kids. If your child breaks their arm, you likely go straight to the hospital. But if the same child is experiencing anxiety or seems depressed, you may not know what to do. Just like adults, children go through difficult periods in their life where they might need help or guidance. Research tells us that 1 in 4 children experience anxiety and/or depression. So how do we know when a little person might need some extra support.
As psychologists we are trained to consider how the difficulties are impacting on a persons daily life, and this can be a helpful framework for parents to use also. That is, seek help when the difficulties begin to impact on daily activities. When considering this it might be helpful to reflect on the following:
are the difficulties impacting on my childs learning at school (for example, a change in academic performance, difficulty with focus or concentration, loss of interest in school)
are the difficulties impacting on my childs friendships (for example, increased conflict, loss of friends, feeling isolated or lonely)
are the difficulties impacting on my childs self-concept (for example, being critical of themselves, negative self-talk, and lacking confidence)
are the difficulties impacting on my relationship with them (for example, lots of conflict and negative interactions, feeling less connected)
a change in sleeping or eating patterns (for example, sleeping more or waking often, loss of appetite)
does my child seem more withdrawn and has lost interest in activities they previously enjoyed doing (for example, spending more time alone in their room, or not interested in participating in family activities)
When all the above is considered and you are still not sure whether your child might need some psychological support, then arrange an appointment to have a chat with a psychologist who will be able to assess and provide guidance as to what is required. Given the vast body of research showing the benefits of early intervention, it is better to seek help early for the best outcomes for your child.