Mental Wellness Checklist for Children

18 Out of 100 People

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders such as PTSD, panic attacks, phobias, and general anxiety disorder affect 18% of people in the U.S. each year, making them the most common mental health problems.

Anxiety becomes an anxiety disorder when overwhelming fear and worry prevent you from being able to live a normal life. Anxiety disorders can affect anyone and may begin at any age.

People with anxiety disorders are unable to control their own disturbing thoughts. They may start to avoid everyday situations that they fear will trigger more stress.

Anyone in Ventura County who has a question about mental health should seek help immediately, the same way you would ask for help when we have any other health question. If ignored and untreated, extreme anxiety can prevent you from being able to participate in daily life.

Worrying, Anxiety and When It’s Too Much

Everyone experiences worry in some way during daily life. You may feel understandably anxious as a reaction to ordinary urgent situations, for example, if you are running late for work. However, you may also feel anxious when you are worrying about something that may or may not happen, a threat that only exists in your imagination.

How do you know if your child is mentally well? What is typical?

Every child is different. When children develop language, motor, and social skills varies from child to child.

Not every behavior problem is serious. In fact, many everyday stresses can cause changes in your child's behavior. For example, stress from a new baby in the family or a divorce may cause a child to temporarily act much younger than he or she is. Before assuming that there is a mental health problem, it can be worth trying changes to see if that makes a difference.

If you're concerned about your child's mental health, try these simple things first:

• Has your child had a full medical checkup recently? There may be a physical problem that needs attention.

• Try less TV

• More sleep

• Exercise every day

• Healthier food

• More calm and quiet

• Learn more about parenting tips and positive ways to manage your children's behavior

• Find out if there are problems at school or elsewhere that are causing stress, such as bullying.

• Adults' anger can influence children without your realizing.

STILL CONCERNED?

It's easy to know when your child has a fever. A child's mental health problem may be harder to identify, but you can learn to recognize the symptoms. Sudden changes in your child's behavior can tip you off to a problem.

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MAY NEED HELP

YOUNGER CHILDREN:

  • Changes in school performance
  • Poor grades despite strong efforts
  • Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
  • Sadness that doesn't go away
  • Hyperactivity
  • Persistent nightmares
  • Persistent disobedience or aggression
  • Hurting or destroying things
  • Frequent temper tantrums

OLDER CHILDREN OR TEENS:

  • Substance abuse
  • Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
  • Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
  • Excessive complaints of physical ailments
  • Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
  • Intense fear of weight gain
  • Exercising too much
  • Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
  • Frequent outbursts of anger that seems to come from nowhere
  • Explosive behavior

Can symptoms be caused by stressful events?
Yes, events like a death in the family, illness in a parent, the stress of family financial problems or divorce can affect every member of a family, even the youngest child. It's normal for stress to cause a child to be upset. Remember this if you see mental, emotional, or behavioral symptoms in your child. Take note if he or she gets better with time. If more than a month goes by, professional help may be needed.

Some common mental health problems in children are:

WHO TO DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS WITH

You could discuss your concerns with:

  • People whose parenting you respect
  • Your child's teachers and school counselors
  • Your minister or rabbi
  • Your child's doctor or health care provider
  • A mental health professional

Ask questions and learn everything you can about the behavior or symptoms that worry you. Keep in mind that every child is different. Even normal development, such as when children develop language, motor, and social skills, varies from child to child. Ask if your child needs further evaluation by a specialist with experience in child behavioral problems. Specialists may include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and behavioral therapists. Educators may also help evaluate your child.

If you take your child to a specialist, ask, "Do you have experience treating the problems I see in my child?" Don't be afraid to interview more than one specialist to find the right fit. Continue to learn everything you can about the problem or diagnosis. The more you learn, the better you can make decisions that feel right for you, your child, and your family.

* Sources: Mental Health America; U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, National Institute of Mental Health

If you are interested in joining the Suicide Prevention Council, please email MHSA@ventura.org