Are you concerned about the mental health of your child and don’t know what to do about it? Do you want to know more about the importance of early intervention when it comes to the mental health of your child?
Mental health is just as important as physical health, but often gets neglected. This is especially true when it comes to children’s mental health. Unfortunately, there are a lot of stigmas attached to mental illness, which can lead to families not seeking help for their kids early enough.
While children’s physical health is important for their overall well-being, it has been proven that physical activity and sports can also help with mental health. So every once in a while, encourage your child to dust off their sneakers, get their mouth guard for sports and get a little exercise outside in the fresh air.
Not intervening early on can have serious consequences down the road. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself about children’s mental health and how you can get help for your child if needed.
The statistics on children’s mental health
When it comes to the mental health of any person, it is always important to take it seriously and not just put it down to being sick or not feeling great. This is especially true when it comes to that if the mental health of children because they don’t necessarily know how to express themselves efficiently.
Research by the CDC shows that roughly 1 in 5 children suffers from some kind of mental health disorder. When put into perspective this is a very large number of children. Around about 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and unfortunately, only around 20% of these children receive effective treatment for these mental health disorders.
Studies show that the leading cause of death in those between the ages of 15 to 24 years old is suicide and 90% of those who die by suicide have been shown to have had a mental illness at the time of their death. With all of that said, the economic cost of untreated mental illness in the United States alone is estimated to be over $190 billion per year.
The benefits of early intervention
Early intervention when it comes to noticing mental health issues or problems can be incredibly beneficial and end up making both your life and your child’s life so much easier. But what is early intervention?
Essentially it is the process of providing specialist support to a person, in this case, a child, who is showing the beginning symptoms of mental illness or mental disorders. It is one of the critical ways in which one can reduce the progression of the mental disorder and also improve one’s mental health and wellbeing.
Early intervention can begin as young as the infant stage when you have reason to believe that they may develop some kind of problem in the future. A lot of this is based on family history. In younger children early intervention can be implemented should you start noticing strange behavior that is unlike that of other children or your child’s previous behavior.
How to tell if your child is struggling with their mental health
There are a few different ways in which you can tell whether or not your child is struggling with their mental health. If you start to notice any of these behaviors it is a good idea to take immediate action, even if there is the potential that nothing is wrong. It is better to be safe than sorry.
First and foremost, you should make sure to look out for your child’s mood. Watch out for changes in their mood or behaviors as this is one of the biggest telling signs of mental health struggle. You should also make sure to take note of any difficulties in school and even self-harming behaviors.
If you are concerned about your child’s mental health, it is a good idea to take action immediately and seek help from a professional.
What you can do to help your child
When it comes to helping your child with mental health concerns, there is no shame in asking for help. These days there are many different resources available to make use of for both you and your child.
A great way to manage these concerns is to establish a routine whether it is a daily or weekly routine, and make sure to stick to it as much as possible. Encouraging your child to participate in activities that they enjoy as well as promote a healthy diet and exercise regime. Lastly, you should always seek professional help if the problem persists or seems to be getting worse. If this is something you think is appropriate for your child and are considering getting them professional help, find places like kidthink.ca which are experts in the mental health and mental well-being of children. This can be very beneficial in the long run.