Another valuable piece of information on mental health issues in children - warning signs that all parents should be looking out for. Here's a list, as published in The Calgary Herald last week.
Babies and toddlers
Disturbed biorhythms for eating, sleeping and playing
Preschoolers
Unusually withdrawn or aggressive
Persistent nightmares
Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums
School children
Frequent physical complaints about headaches, stomach aches
Significant fall in school work
Constant worry or anxiety that has the child refusing to go to school, to sleep or to take part in regular activities
Persistent nightmares
Persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than six months) and provocative opposition to authority figures
Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums
Avoiding family and friends
Problems with memory, attention or concentration
Big changes in eating and sleeping patterns
Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety or crying a lot
Neglects personal appearance or basic hygiene
Substance use
Disruptive, hyperactivity; fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing
Hitting and/or bullying others
Preteens and youth
Marked change in school performance.
Inability to cope with problems and daily activities.
Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits.
Frequent physical complaints.
Sexual acting out.
Prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by little or no energy, sadness, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping
Drinking a lot and/or using drugs.
Obsessed with weight control; purging food, restricting eating, over-exercising
Avoiding family and friends and stopping activities he or she used to enjoy
Neglecting personal appearance and basic hygiene
Damaging others’ property
Frequent outbursts of anger and rage; frequent mood swings
Worrying constantly
Talk of suicide or thoughts of death
Attempts to injure themselves or attempting suicide
Acting overly suspicious of others
Seeing or hearing things that others don’t see or hear
Sources: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information (heretohelp.bc.ca); The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (canmat.org); Children’s Mental Health Ontario (kidsmentalhealth.ca); Dr. Chris Wilkes
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/flags+checklist/5515314/story.html#ixzz1a6h3qfV2
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