Mental health problems in children and adolescents are more common than people think. The good news is children can be helped when parents know risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.
The four most common children’s mental health problems are:
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders range from mild but unwarranted fears that make one’s favorite activities less enjoyable to full-blown panic attacks that make participating in those activities impossible. If not treated, mild anxiety can become severe, significantly impacting a person’s life.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
This disorder occurs after traumatic events. They could be experienced by the child directly or the child could be a witness to them. Such events don’t need to be out of the ordinary. The death of a grandparent can be sufficient to adversely affect young children.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Those who live with this common disorder have difficulty focusing and often exhibit hyperactive behavior. These symptoms make school a very difficult environment for children with untreated ADHD.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Children with this developmental disorder have a hard time interacting with others. Their communication skills are often underdeveloped and severe cases can display repetitive behavior that can sometimes be harmful.
Spotting the Signs
The following symptoms could indicate mental health conditions in a child:
- School grades getting worse
- Acting out
- Taking risks
- Loss of enjoyment
- Constant worrying
- Angry outbursts
- Mood swings
- Lowered energy
- Trouble sleeping
- Appetite change
- Weight obsession
- Drinking
- Drug taking
RevUp Can Improve Children’s Mental Health
Few children just grow out of their mental health issues. They need help from mental health professionals. The treatment plans at RevUp are designed to improve children’s mental health by building mental motor skills and coping mechanisms so they can learn to help themselves.
To find out more about how your child can benefit from RevUp’s programs, call today at 561-358-7730.