Mental Health

Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions that causes distress and problems getting through the day. Many children experience occasional fears and worries, or disruptive behaviors. If symptoms are severe and persistent and interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Among the more common mental disorders that can be diagnosed in childhood are ADHD, anxiety, and behavior disorders, such as ODD.

It is important to watch for mental disorders in children and understand how they are treated because they can have a significant effect on overall health and relationships throughout life. Identifying problems early can help children get the support they need.

What to look for:

It can be tough to tell if troubling behavior in a child is just part of growing up or a problem that should be discussed with a health professional. But if there are behavioral signs and symptoms that last weeks or months, and if these issues interfere with the child’s daily life at school, or with friends, you should contact the parent and school counselor.

Young children may benefit from a referral to the school counselor if they:

• Have frequent tantrums or are intensely irritable much of the time

• Often talk about fears or worries

• Complain about frequent stomachaches or headaches with no known medical cause

• Are in constant motion and cannot sit quietly (except when they are watching videos or playing video games)

• Repeatedly seem sleepy during the day

• Are not interested in playing with other children or have difficulty making friends

• Struggle academically or have experienced a recent decline in grades

• Repeat actions or check things many times out of fear that something bad may happen

Older children and adolescents may benefit from a referral to the school counselor if they:

• Have lost interest in things that they used to enjoy

• Have low energy

• Repeatedly seem sleepy throughout the day

• Spend more and more time alone, and avoid social activities with friends or family

• Diet or exercise excessively, or fear gaining weight

• Engage in self-harm behaviors (such as cutting or burning their skin)

• Smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs

• Engage in risky or destructive behavior alone or with friends

• Have thoughts of suicide

• Have periods of highly elevated energy and activity, and require much less sleep than usual

• Say that they think someone is trying to control their mind or that they hear things that other people cannot hear

How to talk to students with anxiety:

Try not to say...

Referrals for mental health support and repeated, big emotions may be made to the school counselor.