Is Your Child Struggling with Mental Health Issues?

Have you been working diligently to put proven parenting strategies into practice? Despite this, is your child is still misbehaving, creating conflict, lacking motivation, procrastinating, underperforming at school, having trouble making friends, or having other problems? If so, a mental health issue may be the culprit.

KIDS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Mental health problems and learning disorders—all of which are actually brain health issues—are rising among the more than 73 million kids ages 0 to 17 in the US. Just look at these statistics:

• 75% of all mental health issues begin before age 25.
• 50% of children who struggle with mental health issues are unidentified and receive no treatment.
• 46% of students with a mental health issue drop out of school.
• 65–75% of jailed teens have a mental illness, including brain injuries.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death, behind accidents, among teens ages 15 to 19.
• 86% of teens know someone with a mental health issue.
• Over 86% of teens say mental health is an important topic.
• Over 84% say there is a stigma surrounding mental health.

Although approximately half of all mental health issues show up by the mid-teens, most children aren’t diagnosed and don’t receive treatment until several years after symptoms first appear.

WHY PARENTS MISS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN KIDS

This is not surprising because most parents aren’t experts in the differences between “normal” and “abnormal” behaviors, emotional health, or brain and mental wellness. Parents are usually only exposed to their own children, their nieces and nephews, and their kids’ friends.

So, when a youngster seems consistently down in the dumps, constantly worries, or acts aggressively, it’s natural to assume it’s just your child’s nature or that they have an attitude problem.

If you misread an underlying brain health problem or mental health issue as an attitude issue, your knee-jerk reaction may be to increase discipline and consequences, which may be harmful. Many kids who have brain/mental health problems are actually trying hard to do what Mom and Dad ask, but they just aren’t able to do it because of the way their brain is wired.

If your child is consistently struggling at school, routinely having trouble getting along with others, or frequently losing their temper, take a moment and ask yourself, “Could this be a sign of something else?”

WHEN TO SEEK HELP FOR YOUR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH

If you have a feeling that your youngster or adolescent may have a behavioral, emotional, or learning issue, don’t wait. Bring up any concerns with your child’s pediatrician or other healthcare provider.

Small issues that remain untreated can morph into big problems. On the flip side, early intervention can put a halt to unwanted issues and can improve your child’s future.

In some cases, simple lifestyle changes or nutritional supplements may be all they need. If you’re noticing problematic behaviors or emotional issues, it’s important to get your child on a brain-healthy program sooner rather than later.

When these issues remain untreated, they can have lifelong consequences that make parenting exponentially more difficult.

In the short term, these issues are associated with increased family discord, academic underachievement, and more. Over time and into adulthood, they are linked with increased risks of school dropouts, traffic accidents, substance abuse, job failure and unemployment, financial problems, obesity, divorce, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

After working with thousands of children, we can assure you that seeking treatment for brain/mental health and learning problems is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength and love for your child.

COMMON CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN KIDS

Some of the more common mental health issues seen in children include:

• ADD/ADHD: ADD/ADHD is characterized by a short attention span, distractibility, procrastination, disorganization, and poor internal supervision (such as problems with judgment and impulse control). Notice that hyperactivity is not one of the five hallmark symptoms.
• Anxiety disorders: All kids feel anxious from time to time. When anxiety becomes nearly constant, however, it may be an anxiety disorder.
• Depressive disorder: All kids feel sad or hopeless at times. But when low mood persists for weeks or months, it could be a sign of depression.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: OCD is characterized by unwanted, unpleasant recurrent thoughts that cause worry, shame, guilt, and/or compulsions that interfere with daily life. The most common repetitive behaviors involve counting, handwashing, checking, and touching.
• PANS and PANDAS: Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), which are considered a subset of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), are mental and behavioral issues that occur suddenly following an infection.

RAISING MENTALLY STRONG KIDS

You will find the warning signs associated with these common childhood mental disorders, as well as natural solutions, in the book Raising Mentally Strong Kids.

In the book, Raising Mentally Strong Kids, brain and mental health expert Dr. Daniel Amen and child psychologist Dr. Charles Fay have teamed up to reveal what’s missing from most parenting books. It’s the fact that you need to address both the brain and the mind of your child (and yourself) in order to be an effective parent and raise competent humans.

In this groundbreaking, science-backed book where neuroscience meets practical psychology, parents are given proven tools to help children of all ages go from defiance, meltdowns, and power struggles to being responsible, resilient, and confident. Order your copy now and put your child on the path to a brighter future.

If you want to join the tens of thousands of parents and children who have already learned how to be mentally stronger at Amen Clinics, speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.