Does your child need professional help?
Top experts weigh in on everyday questions
Louis Z. Cooper, M.D., F.A.A.P.
President, American Academy of Pediatrics
Ten to 12 percent of children and teens have problems that need
attention from a mental health professional. There are a number of
warning signs: Does your child cry excessively and have trouble
recovering from upsetting experiences? Does he have sleep problems? Does
he consistently say he doesn't want to go to school? Is he frequently sad
or angry? Has he withdrawn from his usual activities or friendships? Many
of these signs are common childhood behaviors, but the important thing is
to notice their degree or frequency. Every child has a bad day; but if
every day is a bad day, your child may benefit from outside help.
Marilyn B. Benoit, M.D.
President, American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry
Most parents offer their children an interactive and dynamic home
environment. Parents influence their children's environment, while also
being affected by it themselves. Parents generally can sense when changes
in their children affect their surroundings in negative ways-that is,
when these changes are abnormal. Some developmentally appropriate
changes, such as the oppositionality of a toddler, are indeed
problematic, but there is real cause for concern when changes exceed what
is developmentally normal. Parents should seek the services of a mental
health professional if they observe the following: drastic- changes in
mood, thinking (suicidal, delusional, paranoid, obsessive), behavior, or
if their child is abnormally aggressive, shows poor impulse control or
signs of emotional distress, or has attention problems or irregular sleep
patterns.
Terry Mizrahi, M.S.W., Ph.D.
President, National Association of Social Workers
In these times of media attention on troubled children, deciding
when to seek professional help for your child is complex. Parents need to
be alert to any major change in their child's behavior, whether observed
by them or by a close relative, friend or teacher. Your child might be
reacting to a major family or community event-death, illness, divorce,
natural disaster, school trauma and so on. Professional intervention
might be needed when behavior changes are sustained or severe, or when
there is no apparent external cause. Consultation with a mental health
professional is also in order when parents feel they are losing control
of their child, aren't able to communicate with him or her or find
themselves asking, "Why is my child acting like that?"
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