Recognizing the signs - mental health issues in kids

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Unusually withdrawn or aggressive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

Children's mental health issues can start early in life

Here's another great article in the series on children and mental health that appeared this week in the Calgary Herald.  Let us know what you think...

Children's mental health issues can start early in life

“The foundations of mental health are shaped from the earliest days of life” — from Handle With Care, a report by the Canadian Mental Health Association

Jodi came into the world six weeks early. She wasn’t a difficult baby, but she “always needed a little extra attention,” says her mom Linda.

“We were very overprotective because she was a preemie. And I was not well as a mom because I had toxemia. It was a hugely difficult time for our family,” says Linda, a Calgarian who requested we not use the family’s last name.

As a toddler Jodi was bright and full of life; she followed her big sister around, soaking up the world like a sponge.

Just before she had her tonsils out at age six, Jodi learned about the “germs in her throat” during a preparatory session at the hospital. She began washing her hands to get rid of those germs. Constantly.


Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Children+mental+health+issues+start+early+life/5515306/story.html#ixzz1a6gDkR4e