Childhood mental illnesses
About 10% of children & young people have a mental health problem, and a small percentage will have a severe mental illness. Ideally, the key to handling these childhood disorders is for parents & carers to recognise the issue and seek appropriate treatment as early as possible.
It is easy for parents to identify their child's physical needs: nutritional food, warm clothes when it's cold, bedtime at a reasonable hour. However, a child's mental and emotional needs may not be so obvious. The basics for a child's good mental health include:
- unconditional love from a family
- self-confidence and high self-esteem
- the opportunity to play with other children
- encouraging teachers and supportive caretakers
- safe and secure surroundings
- appropriate guidance and discipline.
If you are worried about your child's mental health you should contact your GP or school nurse. Assessment is based on a joint working process that should involve psychiatrists and doctors, the child, and the child's family or carers, and school healthcare staff.
Recognising that your child may have a problem, which you may not fully understand is not a sign of failure as a parent.
