Understanding children and young peoples mental health 

Mental health in children and young adults can be difficult to identify. Unfortunately, this means that children and young adults who could benefits from receiving treatment either do not receive it or receive it late. If we can notice the early warning signs, then intervention can take place and the child or young person can start to receive treatment earlier.

Persistent sadness

Is when withdrawal from any or all social interaction and sadness last for more than a couple of weeks.

Change in personality.

This can be a change in mood, becoming irritable, out of control behaviour, outbursts, and changes in personality.

Loss of concentration

This could be finding it difficult to concentrate at school, at home and children and young people may find it difficult to stay asleep and to even get to sleep.

Eating problems

Changes in eating patrons, eating problems can be complex from binge eating and hiding food, to extreme weight loss.

Medical complaints

This could be when a child or young person complains about stomach pains and headache on a regular basis.

Education problems

Changes in academic performance, skipping or avoiding schools.

When children have mental health, it is defined as delays or disruptive development, which is related to age-appropriate thinking.

This can become distressing and can disrupt the ability to function in school and at home and in other socials interactions.

As a child or young person finds it hard to talk about their problems or feeling as depending on their age, they may not know how to express them self.

If out of character behaviour was to continue, then sitting down and listening to the child should be done with people they trust and with help from a professional such as a mental health worker or doctor.

Anxiety disorder

In children and young people can be a persistent of worrying, becoming distance I am playing, within schools and other social situations, feeling fearful, anxious, and having harmful behaviour. This can include social, generalised anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Self-harm does not always mean a person wants to take their own life, with self-harm being a widespread problem, young people can find that self-harm aids them in managing intensive emotional feelings. Self-harm can also be about the care they give them self or others looking after the harm they caused.

PTSD which is short for post-traumatic stress disorder can be from a result of any form of physical or sexual abuse. Violence or severe bullying including witnessing an extremely traumatic event or surviving one all of which can turn into harmful behaviours

Eating disorders

Will normally start in the teenage years and are more common in girls. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can have serious health complications including death.

Depression and mood disorders

Depression is feeling sad most the time and people tend to lose interest which affects the person’s ability to function as well as being able to interact with others including family and friends.

Bipolar disorder is a result of extreme mood swings between depression and extreme emotional behaviour high that may cause the individual to be unguarded which can lead to unsafe and risky behaviour.

Showing support and openness well being honest with your child or your person and having an open communication with them. Do not be judgemental or tell them of explaining to them the risk factors of their behaviour and helping them to understand and come to the opinion them self that behaviour is dangerous, and changes should be made

Anger is a feeling we may all feel sometimes especially if things do not go our way, or an unexpected change or circumstance has happened to trigger an emotional stress. Feeling anger is common but sometimes it can last and become uncontrollable or even harmful.

Feeling down or unable to cope is another common feeling we can all experience at points in our life. However sometimes it can be overwhelming, and we can find it hard to cope

Early intervention

Building a strong relationship with your children can help build resilience in your child. And when your child finds it hard to cope in any circumstances, they will be more open to talk about what they are going through. Listening to your child, understanding them, and taking them seriously will help them to better deal with their problems. If they are having negative feelings and this continue for a period of time, then seeking help from a professional person is wise to help them get back on with their life’s. It is especially important to get help if the child is finding it hard to get on with their life and daily living. You can get more help if the child is reforecasts most support is provided for free in the NHS.

It is based on talking and honesty to help build a relationship and to find the best way to overcome the problem. Children and young people who seek professional help given medication however all medications should be given under professional guidance. Especially for thoughts under sixteen years of age. Early intervention can help with children social and emotional development, this can increase their social interactions and behaviour. Improve self-esteem and confidence

Early intervention is key to helping young people with any issues they may have will give them a better outcome to life. Helping them to find coping mechanisms they can use later in life.

Also, early intervention can give people incentive to seek help later in life if they have received it at a younger age. The earlier a child or young person gets help the better and more positive the outcome can be hoping leading to them not needing intervention at a later stage in their life.

Early intervention can help a child or young person to become more open, strong minded and give them the encouragement and support that they need to attend social settings to build relationships and to help them come apart of society.

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Information on mental health in young people part four. (acsnutritionaltherapist.co.uk)

By Aaron Christopher Slade 

A.C.S Nutritional Therapist and weight loss specialist.
A registered nutritional therapist.