Children’s mental health problems are real, common, and treatable. If your child is struggling, you can help by:
- Creating a supportive environment
- Spending time with your child doing enjoyable activities
- Maintaining routines as much as possible
- Regularly asking your child how they are
- Acknowledging and respecting your child’s feelings
- Listening to your child’s concerns
- Encouraging them to talk about how they feel
- Talking about emotions and feelings regularly
- Letting your child know that you care for them and you’re ready to listen whenever they want to talk
- Asking your child what they think might help them feel better
- Helping your child find someone to talk to if they don’t feel comfortable talking to you
Mental health conditions can worsen over time, so early intervention is critical. Common treatment options for children who have mental health conditions include psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or behavior therapy. A mental health professional will review the evaluation results to help determine if a child’s behavior is related to changes or stresses at home or school or if it’s the result of a disorder.
Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities. Untreated mental health problems can disrupt children’s functioning at home, school, and in the community.