For parents, when they suspect that their child has a mental illness, the most important thing they need is to be able to face the problem and seek help and treatment for their child in a timely manner. Mental illnesses have clear diagnostic criteria and treatment pathways, but a very careful diagnosis must be made by a psychiatrist before a decision can be made as to whether or not a child needs help and what kind of treatment he or she needs. Common childhood mental illnesses include depression, ADHD and conduct disorder. Statistics show that one in ten children between the ages of six and twelve are chronically sad, showing the most obvious signs of depression. However, because children are unable to express their feelings clearly and are not as aware as adults of other signs of depression, parents need to understand what behavioral indicators, in addition to changes in eating and sleeping habits, may constitute warning signs of depression. A sudden deterioration in school performance. Sudden loss of interest in once favorite activities. 3. Unexplained temper tantrums, complaining, irritability, or crying. 4. Mentioning thoughts of suicide. 5. Feelings of anxiety or fear. 6. Increased aggressiveness, refusal to cooperate, and not fitting in. 7. Drug or alcohol abuse. Frequent complaints of arm, leg, stomach, and gastric discomfort without cause. Treatment is essential. Only then can the child progress academically and socially. The most common form of treatment is counseling, and sometimes medication must be added to control the problem. In counseling, children learn how to express their feelings and how to deal effectively with their illness. Some children also respond well to medication, but this requires close cooperation with the doctor. It is best not to rely solely on medication, but to have a holistic approach to treatment that is both physical and psychological. Indicators of ADHD may include constant movement, inability to sit still, inability to restrain movement, and inability to concentrate or maintain attention. Although these phenomena are common in children, they are sufficiently severe in ADHD to cause distress and learning difficulties, 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 between eight and ten years old, and the rate of male children with ADHD is greater than that of female children. Children with hyperactivity disorder have difficulty staying on task and often give up on tasks that require concentration. 3. They seem to ignore adults’ instructions. 4. Excessively active – running, crawling, jumping, twisting and turning all the time, unable to sit still. 5. Easily distracted. 6. Very talkative, rushes to answer and sometimes doesn’t even finish listening to the question. 7. Difficult to keep order when playing games and in any situation where there is a line. 8. May also have other learning disabilities. Treatment may include medication, counseling, and special education to help keep learning from falling behind. About 70% to 80% of children respond favorably to medication. After taking medication, they are more likely to have longer attention spans, improved performance, and control of hyperactive behaviors. Counseling helps the patient learn how to deal with the emotions and inconveniences of the disease and to cope with other people’s reactions to the disease. Often parents and caregivers are invited to participate in counseling so that the family can learn about behavior management together. Third, children with Conduct Disorder always ignore social norms of behavior. It is one of the most common mental illnesses among adolescents. Because the symptoms of this disorder are similar to other violent behaviors or behaviors that are not acceptable to the family, many parents mistake them for adolescent rebellious behavior or juvenile delinquency. However, patients may have hidden depression, ADHD, or other head and facial injuries that have been overlooked or misdiagnosed. A psychiatrist should diagnose a child with a behavioral disorder if the child has had three or more of the following symptoms for more than six months. 1. Stealing. 2. Lying all the time. 3. Arson. Truancy. 5. Trespassing on homes, company lines, and automobiles. 6, Vandalism. 7, Cruelty to animals or people. 8, Often fight and cause trouble. 9. Forcing others to perform sexual acts. 10. Using weapons in fights. Providing appropriate treatment to such patients is a must. Treatment options may include individual or group counseling, as well as behavior therapy, to help patients understand the consequences of their actions and their impact on others. In cases of depression, ADHD, and other mental illnesses, medication in addition to counseling can be more effective in managing the symptoms of behavioral disorders. Both mental and physical illnesses need to be diagnosed by specialists in order to receive the optimal treatment so that the patient can live an optimal life in the midst of their struggle 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 both the family and the patient. Early diagnosis and treatment is the best help the family can give the patient.