Idenitfiying signs of mental illness in children

Mental illness in children can be especially difficult to detect during the teen years. Just like with any other illness, children often show symptoms that are different from the symptoms a mental illness typically produces in an adult.

Young children may not have the vocabulary to express what they are experiencing, and children in their teens are often reluctant to talk to parents or other authority figures.

A person’s brain is still developing until around the age of 25, so learning healthy ways of dealing with feelings and experiences might be easier in childhood. It can be difficult to distinguish between normal childhood and young adult behavior that will pass and mental illness that requires treatment.

As a parent or other trusted adult in a child’s life, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the symptoms of mental illness in children, learn how to talk about it in an age-appropriate manner and know what resources are available should treatment become necessary.

Signs of mental illness in children can include the following:

Mood changes that last at least two weeks

Mood swings

Overwhelming feelings that interfere with daily life

Drastic changes in behavior

Dangerous or out-of-control behavior

Difficulty concentrating

Unexplained weight loss

Headaches

Stomachaches

Self-harm

Substance abuse

You may look at this list and think some of the items on it look like the terrible 2’s or the teen years and feel a bit hopeless. There are screening tools at Mental Health America (screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools) for parents and youths to help parents decide whether a mental illness may be developing in a child in your life or, if you are a young person, in you.

My first recommendation if you suspect your child is experiencing mental illness is to stay calm, then talk to a health care professional who is familiar with your child about your concerns.

Talking to other people who spend a lot of time with your child to see if they have noticed the things you have noticed might be helpful, as well. I’ve had many adolescent patients over the years who have suffered from anxiety and or depression.

Once it has been identified, most have done well with treatments that have helped them function better in school and their lives overall. It is a good idea to talk calmly with your child about what they are experiencing and mental health in general.

Knowing you are there to support, love and help him or her in whatever way they want you to be is invaluable. Joining a parenting group (either in-person or online) can be a helpful resource if you are in doubt about how to talk to your child about mental health.

If you strongly suspect mental illness, it’s time to make an appointment. Depending on your health insurance situation, the starting point may be your regular pediatrician, family practice physician or other primary care provider.

Many health care systems have dedicated phone lines staffed by people qualified to hear your story and concerns and guide you to the resources available to deal with them in the most appropriate manner.

There are a lot of mental health resources in Spokane, and I encourage you to contact them (spokanecares.org/mental-health-illness-spokane.php#orgs) to find out what they offer and which practices focus on children and/or the family.

The good news is that the earlier mental illness is identified in a child, the sooner that child can start learning techniques to cope with the feelings and experiences his or her illness is causing. Having such tools will help in the present and can be useful tools for coping with everyday life as an adult.