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Youth Mental Health Resources
Early intervention can help children/adolescents develop important coping and adaptive skills (e.g., resilience), allowing them to thrive socially, emotionally, academically, and physically. With proper treatment and support, people with a mental health diagnosis can lead productive and fulfilling lives. For more information, please see The Youth Mental Health Project and the National Institute of Mental Health.
When to Seek Treatment
When to Seek Treatment
Ages 0-5
Difficulty with socializing or playing with others
Intense difficulty with separation
Intense difficulty or inability to toilet train after the age of 3, bowel holding
Excessive, inconsolable crying or sadness
Inability to fall or stay asleep, excessive lack of sleep
Explosive and prolonged tantrums
Ages 6-11
Inability to focus, connect, or control impulses
Withdrawing from playgroups and friends
Difficulty in making or keeping friends
Competing more for attention of parents & teachers
Frequent head or stomach aches or other physical ailments
Being unwilling to leave home
Being less interested in schoolwork
Having conflict with peers or parents
Low tolerance for frustration or discomfort
Difficulty with transitions or change
Ages 12-18
Difficulty identifying personal interests or engaging in them
Very concrete, hyper-focused thinking
Social problems that persist
School refusal, bullying others, aggression, and/or lack of motivation
Become withdrawn
Resist authority
Become disruptive or aggressive at home or in the classroom
Experiment with high-risk behaviors
Extreme lack of personal care or hygiene
Source: The Youth Mental Health Project, 2021, ymhproject.org
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