Childhood mental health is a vital aspect of a human developing into a healthy adult. It can be difficult to monitor, however. As children grow, they change, and changes are natural and expected. But some changes indicate potential problems. Observation and support are key in identifying mental health problems in children, finding ways to communicate about them, and achieving treatment for them.

Observation is Key

The foundation on which your mental health monitoring stands is your knowledge of your child. As your child grows and experiences discoveries and changes, observe, take note, and watch for behaviors outside of the known norm. If something doesn’t feel right, ask other parental figures or caretaking presences in your child’s life. Have they noticed anything unusual in your child’s attitudes, actions, preferences, or predilections? If you suspect something, but cannot put your finger on it, try a journal of observations. Even if no diagnosis comes of it, you will later have a record of interest in your growing child.

Growth or Problematic Change?

Having established a pattern of observing and potentially recording the changes your child is experiencing, you need to know how to tell if a change is a normal growth or a sign of mental health problems. Children change as they grow, but some signs are clear. Sadness lasting at least two weeks, social changes such as isolation, causing self-harm or talking about harming themselves, outbursts of moodiness, talk of suicide or death, eating habit changes that may lead to differences in weight, sleep issues, difficulty concentrating, and problems in school or school attendance are all indications of something wrong.

Erasing Stigmas

A stigma has existed that is currently losing its power: the idea that mental health problems display a flaw in character, a moral failing, or are a punishment. The reality is that 1 in 5 children will, due to a variety of factors, experience some type of serious mental health difficulty. If your child is the one in five, you are far from alone, and your child is also in prevalent company. It’s important to talk to children about how mental health is just like any other type of condition or illness and is no one’s fault.

Communication and Support

When your child displays signs of mental illness, be prepared to offer more than your usual words and actions of affirmation. Let your child know they are loved and that they have you as an ally and support through whatever challenges they face. Create a safe space in which your child can openly communicate fears and frustrations. Do not forget that you, as well, may need additional support. Reach out to the school counselor or a therapist in the community to know how best to help your child.

Monitoring your child’s mental health is an important element in raising a healthy, safe child into a well-balanced adult. This can be challenging because children’s growth consists of a chain of changes. Some changes reveal the potential for problems, however. Observe, know your child, spot the signs of issues, and be better prepared to take action.

Published by: Martin De Juan