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When our kids have a physical illness or injury we seek professional help and get any medical attention they might need. When our kids have symptoms of a mental illness they need us to respond in the same way.
Mental illness, like physical illness, can happen to anyone. 1 in 7 kids in BC have at least one mental illness (over 140,000 children and teens).
Listen to your instincts if you are worried about your child. Collect as much information as you can. You are probably in the best position to know if your child’s behaviour requires further attention. Arrange to meet with a well-trained and trusted professional. Help that works is available.
It can be confusing trying to tell the difference between symptoms of mental illness vs. normal problems that all kids experience from time to time. As parents we can use observable behaviours to help us decide what action we need to take.
Some Concerning Behaviours:
decrease in enjoyment and time spent with friends or family
significant fall in school work and performance
strong resistance to attending school or absenteeism
problems with memory, attention or concentration
big changes in energy levels, eating or sleeping patterns
lots of physical symptoms (stomach aches, headaches, etc.)
feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety or crying a lot
frequent aggression, disobedience or lashing out verbally
excessive neglect of personal appearance or basic hygiene
substance use
dangerous or illegal thrill seeking behaviours
acting overly suspicious of others
seeing or hearing things that others don’t see or hear
What can parents do?
Circle the behaviours from the list that concern you (especially those lasting a few weeks or more)
Speak to your child regarding your main concerns (no more than 3 and keep it brief) and listen to their response (for an uninterrupted 3 minutes if you can)
Let your child know you will help work out difficult problems together
Arrange to meet with a trusted and trained professional about your concerns and how to access help (you don’t have to do this alone)
Useful Resources
Trained Professionals: Physicians, mental health teams, school counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, registered clinical counsellors, faith community leaders or any professional with quality training and expertise in child and youth mental health issues.
BC Partners Mental Health Information Line: Provides automated information 24 hours a day and referrals to agencies in your community during business hours. Just call 1-800-661-2121 or 604-669-7600. Learn more about the line.
BC Nurse Line: Provides health information 24 hours a day (available in 130 languages). Just call toll free 1-866-215-4700 or 604-215-4700. For deaf/hearing-impaired help call 1-866-889-4700. Help is also available at www.bchealthguide.org
