The most important thing for parents to do when they suspect that their child has a mental illness is to be able to face the problem and seek help and treatment for their child in a timely manner. There are clear diagnostic criteria and treatment options for mental illnesses, but a professional psychiatrist must make a very careful diagnosis before deciding whether a child needs it and what treatment he or she needs. Common childhood psychiatric disorders include depression, ADHD, and conduct disorder.
Statistics show that one in ten children between the ages of six and twelve feel chronically sad, showing the most obvious signs of depression. However, because children are unable to express their feelings clearly and are not as aware of other signs of depression as adults, parents need to understand what behavioral indicators, in addition to changes in eating and sleeping habits, might constitute warning signs of depression.
1. Sudden deterioration in school performance.
2. Sudden loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
3.Temper tantrums, complaining, irritability, or crying for no apparent reason.
4.Mention of light-hearted thoughts.
5.Anxious or fearful mood.
6.Increased aggressiveness, refusal to cooperate, and disassociation.
7.Drug or alcohol abuse.
8.Commonly complains of discomfort in the arms, legs, stomach, and stomach, but has no reason.
Getting treatment is a must. This is the only way the child can progress academically and socially. The most common treatment is counseling, but sometimes medication must be added to control the problem. During counseling, children learn how to express their feelings and learn how to deal effectively with their disorder. Some children also respond well to medication, but close cooperation with the doctor is needed. It is best not to rely on medication alone, but to have a comprehensive physical and psychological treatment.
Indicators of ADHD may include incessant movement, inability to sit still, inability to restrain n-movement, and inability to concentrate or maintain attention. Although these phenomena are common in children, they can be severe enough to cause distress and academic difficulties in children with ADHD, and are much more extreme and severe than the normal developmental behaviors of children in the same age group. Symptoms appear before the age of seven, but the true age of diagnosis is around eight to ten years old, and the rate is greater in boys than in girls.
1. Children with hyperactivity disorder 2. have difficulty staying on task and often give up halfway on tasks that require concentration.
3. seem to ignore the instructions of adults.
4. Excessive mobility – running, climbing, jumping, twisting and turning all the time, unable to sit still.
5. Easily distracted.
6.Very talkative, rushing to answer, sometimes not even listening to the end of the question.
7.It is difficult to keep order when playing games or in any situation that requires queuing.
8. May also have other learning disabilities.
Treatment may include medication, counseling, and special education to help keep the child from falling behind in school. About 70% to 80% of children respond well to medication. They are more likely to have longer attention spans, improved performance, and control of n-motivated behavior after taking medication. Counseling helps patients learn how to deal with the emotions and inconveniences of the illness and to deal with others’ reactions to the illness. Often counseling will involve parents and caregivers so that the family can learn behavior management together.
Third, children with conduct disorder always ignore social norms of behavior. It is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in adolescents.
Because the symptoms of the disorder resemble other violent behaviors or behaviors that are not socially acceptable to the family, many parents may mistake them for adolescent rebellious behavior or juvenile delinquency.
However, patients may have hidden depression, hyperactivity, or other head and facial injuries and are never overlooked or misdiagnosed. If a child has more than three of the following symptoms for more than six months, a psychiatrist should be consulted to diagnose the disorder.
1. Stealing.
2.Lying all the time.
3. Arson.
4. Truancy from school.
5.Trespassing in the house, company number, car.
6. Intentionally destroying other people’s assets.
7.Being cruel to animals or people.
8.Fighting often and causing trouble.
9.Forcing others to perform sexual acts.
10.Using weapons in fights.
Appropriate treatment for such patients is necessary. Treatment options may include individual or group counseling and behavioral therapy to help patients appreciate the consequences of their behavior and its impact on others. In cases of depression, ADHD and other psychiatric disorders, the addition of medication to counseling can be more effective in managing the symptoms of the disorder.
Both mental and physical illnesses require expert diagnosis in order to receive the best possible treatment so that the patient can live the best possible life while struggling with the illness. There is no shame in having a mental illness, but if left untreated, it can cause endless inconvenience and mental anguish for the family and the patient. Early diagnosis and treatment is the best help that family members can give to their patients.