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World Mental Health Day: Youth and Mental Health

It's World Mental Health Day, so 13 ON YOUR SIDE is taking a look at how you can health young children and teens get the help they may need.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Wednesday is World Mental Health Day and for some, mental disorders begin early in life but sometimes, go unchecked.

Ashtyn Storms, an outpatient therapist with Cherry Health joined the 13 ON YOUR SIDE morning team to talk about some common mental disorders that children and young people struggle with and how to recognize that it's time to intervene.

Ashtyn shared that the most common mental disorders among kids are anxiety disorders, depression disorders, disordered eating and disorders linked to trauma. She says young children may benefit from an evaluation and treatment if they:

  • Complain about frequent stomachaches or headaches with no known medical cause
  • Sleep disturbances --- have frequent nightmares, or seem sleepy during the day
  • Have frequent tantrums or are intensely irritable much of the time
  • Are not interested in playing with other children or have difficulty making friends
  • Are in constant motion and cannot sit quietly (except when they are watching videos or playing videogames)
  • Often talk about fears or worries
  • Struggle academically or have experienced a recent decline in grades

It's important that parents notice changes in their children's everyday behavior to better treat mental health issues. If parents have older children and adolescents they may benefit from an evaluation if they:

  • Have lost interest in things that they used to enjoy
  • Have low energy -- sleep too much or too little
  • Are spending more and more time alone, and avoid social activities with friends or family
  • Fear gaining weight, or diet or exercise excessively
  • Engage in self-harm behaviors (e.g., cutting or burning their skin)
  • Smoke, drink, or use drugs
  • Engage in risky or destructive behavior alone or with friends
  • Have thoughts of suicide
  • Have periods of highly elevated energy and activity, and require much less sleep than usual
  • Say that they think someone is trying to control their mind or that they hear things that other people cannot hear.

Ashtyn also shared some insight as to how someone would go about finding a therapist. Following this checklist may help:

  • Do you use treatment approaches that are supported by research?
  • Do you involve parents in the treatment? If so, how are parents involved?
  • Will there be homework between sessions?
  • How will progress from treatment be evaluated?
  • How soon can we expect to see progress?
  • How long should treatment last?
  • Make sure the personality of the professional and the parent and child are a good fit! It does make a difference.

More information and resources can be found on the National Institute for Mental Health site.

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