Mental health versus mental disorder in children

Mental Health versus Mental Illness

Research into parents and their knowledge of mental health issues in children has revealed the following:

§ That parents are very knowledgeable about mental health in Teenagers but not as knowledgeable with primary age children.

§ That a third of parents believed that mental health would “get better over time if left alone”.

§ More than half of parents didn’t actually know where to go for help.

The research revealed that parents were much more likely to seek help if a child was acting out (tantrums, hitting, screaming etc.) than if they were internalizing (Not saying anything, persistently sad, crying for no apparent reason etc.).

It also revealed that parents often mistake mental health for mental illness. for this reason, parents resisted help for the fear of their child being labelled with a diagnosis or being prescribed drugs.

So how do we understand the mental health needs of a primary aged child? There are four main stages in thinking about mental health and to understand them you need to ask yourself the following questions:

Healthy - Is your child happy at home and school apart from the usual life events that can cause temporary upset (loss/moving/separation/friendship fights etc.).

Coping – Is your child coping with life at home and school? Are they able to reach their potential and if not, what is stopping them?

Struggling – Is your child struggling with school socially or academically? Are they acting out or internalizing. Is your child persistently sad, anxious or angry? Is it difficult to understand what is going on with their emotions?

Unwell –Does your child find it hard to understand themselves, other people and the world around them? Is it hard to get them to follow societal norms, is their behavior often unexpected. Do they struggle with relationships to the point that they can’t make friends or connect with their family?

You know your child better than anyone else. You know your child’s personality and if some of these symptoms are just part of who they are. The most important time to act is if any of these symptoms are not usual in your child and last for a couple of months or more. Being pro-active with your child’s mental health, building self-esteem, resilience, confidence, problem solving etc. can only protect them and make them less likely to struggle with their mental health as adults.

If you believe that your child is struggling, then consult with a mental health professional and help them get back to being mentally healthy. Remember that a child’s brain can recover and is more flexible that an adult’s brain so acting whilst they are young will be more effective than when they are older.

If you have concerns about the mental health of your child, please contact kmrcounselling for a free initial consultation.

kmrcounselling.

More than half of parents don’t know where to go for help