It’s easy to spot when your child breaks a limb or catches a cold, as physical symptoms are more noticeable. When it comes to your child’s mental health, it can be trickier to notice a change in behavior or activity level. It’s incredibly important to recognize the signs of a shift in your child’s mental health and know how to approach it. As your child ages, behavioral changes can be common, so it’s valuable to know what’s normal and what’s not.

Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

One of the most telltale signs of mental health decline in your kids is a sudden behavioral change. If they’re a happy and bright child who suddenly transitions to withdrawn and anxious seemingly overnight without reason, it’s a cause for concern.

As your child grows older, especially as they approach puberty, you may notice some natural and normal behavioral changes. Still, you’ll want to pay attention to the abruptness and extremity of the changes. Social withdrawal, self-criticism, low self-esteem, intense fear, sleep disruptions, difficulty concentrating, decreased school performance, and appetite changes are some noteworthy symptoms to watch out for, especially if they don’t seem to have a cause or happen suddenly. It never hurts to err on the side of caution and start a supportive dialogue with your child if you’re concerned.

Encourage Open and Honest Conversation

The best way to help your child with their mental health is to make a safe space for them to explore their emotions and feelings. They should feel secure and comfortable talking with you, instead of feeling like they’re under interrogation or excessively scrutinized. It helps to avoid judging or punishing your child for their honesty or behavior. You can also lead by example when you admit faults, mistakes, or bad behaviors that you learned from. Mentioning times when your mental health declined can help normalize those types of conversations so that you can address them more easily.

Consult With a Mental Health Professional

A mental health professional, such as a therapist, psychiatrist, or counselor, can use their training and skills to assist your child in addressing the root problem of any mental health concerns they may have. They can provide your child with the tools to overcome anxiety-related issues or identify the cause of anger management concerns. They’re also a neutral party, which your child may feel less embarrassed to discuss certain topics with. Mental health professionals can play a very substantial role in your child’s recovery or mental health management.

Inform Your Child’s Teachers or Caregivers

If your child’s mental health concerns are affecting their behavior or school performance, you may want to inform any caregivers or teachers about the situation. If there is a suspected issue with bullying or abuse, notifying relevant caregivers can help them stay vigilant and provide extra support when needed. Teachers or counselors may even be able to separate bullies when necessary if they become more aware of the problem.

Limit Screen Time

Social media can be fun, but it can also be a source of poor mental health when your child uses it frequently or without supervision. Social media can lead to poor self-esteem, cyberbullying, and more when unmonitored.

While you won’t want to punish your child for using social media or experiencing issues with it, you’ll want to create a healthy relationship with it by limiting how much time your child spends on it. Scheduling a screen-free activity or creating a “screens off” deadline each day can help. It can help feel less punitive when the entire family practices these habits, not just your child.

Providing a welcoming, fun, and activity-filled environment after school and on weekends can make a huge difference in their relationship with their phones and social media, too.

Get Emergency Help

If your child’s mental health symptoms are severe, such as self-harming, threatening to end their life, or taking extremely dangerous drugs, you’ll likely need emergency help. Don’t be afraid to call an ambulance or take your child to the hospital if you’re concerned. If you suspect physical, mental, or sexual abuse has taken place, be sure to file a police report immediately for documentation and to protect your child. Law enforcement can launch an official investigation and file a protective order if necessary.

Consider an Attorney

If your child’s decline in mental or physical health was due to the negligence of a third party, especially a teacher, caregiver, clergy member, or healthcare provider, you may want to consult with an attorney to discuss your options. Legal procedures like filing restraining orders, insurance claims, or civil lawsuits can be difficult to do on one’s own, and an attorney can provide professional legal advice and assistance when you’re not sure where to turn. Attorneys can even assist you in filing a police report on behalf of your child if necessary.

If you opt for finding a lawyer, their specialty, location, and reviews will help you choose the best one. Ratings and reviews will help you get an inside look at their track record and rapport. An attorney will typically only be licensed in the state where they’re located, so you’ll want to look for local options that match your state of residence. An Illinois parent should seek out Illinois attorneys for convenience. You can also find attorneys who specialize in specific fields of law, such as clergy abuse, medical malpractice, and other related issues. Those with specialities or experience within the particular area you’re concerned about will have more insight and a better

likelihood of successful cases. An Illinois parent looking for assistance with clergy abuse will find a lot of help in a reputable clergy abuse lawyer in Illinois. Try to find the closest match in terms of location, reputation, and expertise.

Conclusion

It can be alarming to realize your child may be struggling with declining mental health. When you foster a healthy and welcoming environment, seek professional consultation, and intervene with legal action when necessary, you can significantly mitigate the severity of symptoms. You can also foster a positive atmosphere when you lead by example; don’t hide or neglect your mental health, either. Promote the importance of professional intervention and healthy habits when possible.