| It can be difficult to diagnose a mental health or | | | | they may not wish to see their friends anymore. |
| anxiety problem in a child, simply because their | | | | They can fall behind with schoolwork, become violent |
| changing moods and behaviour can often be | | | | and display other unsociable and or strange |
| attributed to a normal part of the growing up | | | | behaviours; they may also hold unusual beliefs, feel |
| process, however, there are certain signs and | | | | paranoid or in severe cases may suffer from |
| symptoms that might indicate a child is suffering | | | | hallucinations and or delusions. |
| more than what would be considered normal and | | | | These are just a few of the ways that mental illness |
| they may need some sort of help to get back to | | | | can manifest itself in the behaviour of a child who is |
| their old self again. | | | | suffering mental distress and anxiety, the important |
| It is perfectly natural for a child to feel anxious at | | | | thing is to understand that the child is really in need |
| times, for example, when facing exams or particularly | | | | of proper treatment, understanding and support as |
| difficult situations, but when the anxiety is persistent | | | | they cant help their actions. |
| and severe enough to affect the childs day to day | | | | Mental illness affects how we think, feel and |
| life and normal routines then the child could be | | | | understand ourselves and how we fit into the world |
| suffering from an underlying mental health problem | | | | around us, as such it can alter a childs behaviour and |
| that requires some kind of intervention. | | | | damage their relationships and their education. It |
| What to look out for | | | | wont just go away and without help, the child can |
| Recognising the symptoms of persistent anxiety and | | | | suffer needlessly for months or years as well as |
| mental distress and doing something about it is vital if | | | | increasing the risk of attempted suicide or even |
| the child is to get the kind of help he or she needs. | | | | death. |
| Some signs and symptoms to look out for that could | | | | So what causes mental illness in children? |
| indicate the onset of an anxiety or depression related | | | | There is no single identifiable reason why a child |
| disorder include the following: | | | | becomes overly anxious or develops a mental health |
| Feelings of sadness, despair and hopelessness | | | | problem but there are some factors that appear to |
| Often fearful and scared for no particular reason | | | | increase the risk of suffering from some form of |
| Unable to think clearly or make decisions, confusion | | | | mental health problem. |
| Showing signs of extreme anger and hostility | | | | Genetics , mental illness can be handed down in the |
| towards others | | | | genes so if there is a history of mental illness in the |
| Feeling guilty and worthy of blame and punishment | | | | family then there is an increased risk of a child |
| Thinking they are unloved and unlovable | | | | suffering from mental illness too |
| Appearing anxious, fidgety, and irritable a lot of the | | | | Stress , sometimes if there are other events going |
| time | | | | on in their lives, for example, divorce, physical illness, |
| Seeming to be tired all the time | | | | death of a loved one, money problems, bullying at |
| Sleeping too much or not sleeping at all | | | | school etc. then the stress can become too much to |
| Holding strange beliefs or displaying unusual or | | | | cope with and can trigger a mental illness |
| compulsive behaviours | | | | Diet, research indicates that if the diet is too rich in |
| Disinterested in activities they used to enjoy | | | | Omega 6 and there is not enough Omega 3 in the |
| Thinking or talking about death and suicide | | | | form of oily fish or fish oil then the imbalance of |
| It is of course perfectly normal for a child to | | | | fatty acids in the brain can influence brain function |
| experience one or more of these symptoms in a mild | | | | and increase the risk of depression, ADHD, and other |
| form from time to time, however, in mental illness | | | | mood and behaviour disorders |
| the symptoms can become so severe and so | | | | Environment , abuse, neglect and feeling unloved and |
| overwhelming for the child to the extent that they | | | | uncared for can lead to anxiety and mental distress |
| may feel unable to cope with their lives. If excessive | | | | Conclusion |
| anxiety and/or other symptoms appear to be | | | | If your child is displaying signs of anxiety or mental |
| interfering with your childs ability to carry out their | | | | illness, talk to your child and encourage them to |
| day to day routines and other normal activities then | | | | explore their feelings and of course, speak to your |
| you should speak to your doctor. | | | | doctor in order to obtain a correct diagnoses and |
| For example, as well as some of the symptoms | | | | possible treatment options as it is vital that these |
| already listed, a child may start refusing to go to | | | | symptoms are addressed. With proper help and |
| school, or get up in the morning or go to bed at | | | | support, most children will go on to make a full |
| night. They may say they dont want to attend | | | | recovery and will be able to enjoy their lives once |
| weekly clubs and activities they used to frequent, or | | | | again. |