Mental Wellness Checklist for Children

How do you know if your child is mentally well? What is typical?

Every child is different. When children develop language, motor, and social skills varies from child to child.

Not every behavior problem is serious. In fact, many everyday stresses can cause changes in your child's behavior. For example, stress from a new baby in the family or a divorce may cause a child to temporarily act much younger than he or she is. Before assuming that there is a mental health problem, it can be worth trying changes to see if that makes a difference.

If you're concerned about your child's mental health, try these simple things first:

• Has your child had a full medical checkup recently? There may be a physical problem that needs attention.

• Try less TV

• More sleep

• Exercise every day

• Healthier food

• More calm and quiet

• Learn more about parenting tips and positive ways to manage your children's behavior

• Find out if there are problems at school or elsewhere that are causing stress, such as bullying.

• Adults' anger can influence children without your realizing.

STILL CONCERNED?

It's easy to know when your child has a fever. A child's mental health problem may be harder to identify, but you can learn to recognize the symptoms. Sudden changes in your child's behavior can tip you off to a problem.

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MAY NEED HELP

YOUNGER CHILDREN:

Changes in school performance
Poor grades despite strong efforts
Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
Sadness that doesn't go away
Hyperactivity
Persistent nightmares
Persistent disobedience or aggression
Hurting or destroying things
Frequent temper tantrums

OLDER CHILDREN OR TEENS:

Substance abuse
Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
Excessive complaints of physical ailments
Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
Intense fear of weight gain
Exercising too much
Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
Frequent outbursts of anger that seems to come from nowhere
Explosive behavior

Can symptoms be caused by stressful events?
Yes, events like a death in the family, illness in a parent, the stress of family financial problems or divorce can affect every member of a family, even the youngest child. It's normal for stress to cause a child to be upset. Remember this if you see mental, emotional, or behavioral symptoms in your child. Take note if he or she gets better with time. If more than a month goes by, professional help may be needed.

Some common mental health problems in children are:

WHO TO DISCUSS YOUR CONCERNS WITH

You could discuss your concerns with:

People whose parenting you respect
Your child's teachers and school counselors
Your minister or rabbi
Your child's doctor or health care provider
A mental health professional

Ask questions and learn everything you can about the behavior or symptoms that worry you. Keep in mind that every child is different. Even normal development, such as when children develop language, motor, and social skills, varies from child to child. Ask if your child needs further evaluation by a specialist with experience in child behavioral problems. Specialists may include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and behavioral therapists. Educators may also help evaluate your child.

If you take your child to a specialist, ask, "Do you have experience treating the problems I see in my child?" Don't be afraid to interview more than one specialist to find the right fit. Continue to learn everything you can about the problem or diagnosis. The more you learn, the better you can make decisions that feel right for you, your child, and your family.

* Sources: Mental Health America; U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Resources, National Institute of Mental Health