Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Mental Health?
Author: Nicole Fox | Program Director at Level-Up Life
It may feel as though mental health issues have skyrocketed in the past few years. You’re not wrong – according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 US adults experience mental illness each year, 1 in 6 US youth experience mental illness each year, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14 (Read more here). These numbers are alarming. As parents, it’s natural to wonder if your child will become one of these statistics.
Thankfully, there are some warning signs. With a bit of attention and conversation you will be able to decide whether or not you should be concerned about your child’s mental health. There are never black-and-white guidelines, however, many experts have agreed on several presentations. Let’s go through them:
Changes in eating habits
Suddenly, your child has been refusing to eat, eating significantly less, or using the bathroom during meal times. On the opposite end of that, your child may be insatiable, binging food (maybe in secret), or making food choices that are vastly different from what you’re used to seeing.
We know that kids are growing and can sometimes seem like a bottomless pit at meal times. When you notice a drastic change in their eating habits, especially alongside other warning signs, that is when there may be cause for concern.
Changes in weight
Along with changes in eating habits, pay attention to sudden weight loss or weight gain. They can occur without each other but often will occur together. They may also begin to wear baggier clothes to hide their appearance.
Sleeping much more, or much less
Youth, especially teenagers, love their sleep. Sleep is great for the brain and body; it is one of our best healing tools. However, if you begin to notice major changes in your child’s sleeping habits, you may want to start a conversation. Sleep habit disruptions are one of the most common side effects of mental illness, especially depression and anxiety.
Severe mood shifts
For pubescent children especially, it is not uncommon to have mood shifts. How can you tell when these mood shifts are really severe?
The main question to ask is: how long are these mood shifts lasting? Do they have an argument and quickly move on, or is it part of a longer stretch of negativity? Heightened emotions are common, but if you notice that your child is withdrawing and constantly pessimistic, you have a reason for concern.
Decrease in academic/extracurricular performance
Even if your child is not a perfect student, pay attention to their academic performance. You’ll want to see if there are any serious declines in attendance or performance. If it’s one class that suffers, you may have a different issue. When most or all class grades are declining you may have something bigger. Mental illness can make it difficult for children to focus and feel motivated.
You may also notice a decline in participation in extracurricular activities, or even hobbies that they once previously enjoyed. Exploring new interests and dropping old ones is part of growing up–but look for a sudden change. If your child has dropped most or all extracurriculars and hobbies, ask them about it.
If you’d like to read more about the warning signs of mental illness in youth, click here for youth.gov’s comprehensive list.
If you notice any of these warning signs, what should you do?
Start a conversation. Gently tell your child that you are concerned because of X, Y, Z. Ask them if they’re okay and how you can support them.
Reach out to your child’s PCP or school counselor. A PCP can give you recommendations regarding health and wellness and can even refer you to a mental health professional. Your child’s school counselor may have more input on their presentation in school, as well as have resources available.
Schedule a consultation with us! We work with both mental health and academic challenges and we are here to help.
