Detecting Mental Problems in Children

Due to advances in the field of medicine and psychiatry, we now know that children can experience mental illness.  Children with mental problems usually show different symptoms than adults.  It is up the adults in the child's environment to be aware of how to detect mental problems in children. 

Most of the mental illnesses that children experience also can occur in adults.  Mental illness in children may be due to genetics, as some mental illness tends to run in families, also chemical defects or injury to the brain may lead to mental illness. Psychological trauma such as severe emotional, sexual or physical abuse many trigger mental illness.  A stressful event or a stressful environment may also lead to mental problems. 

Many times the child knows that something isn't aright but they don't feel comfortable or cannot articulate what the problem is. It may take a watchful adult to notice subtle changes in a child's behavior. 

Symptoms

Changes in sleeping or eating patterns

Outbursts of anger that occur frequently

Frequent complaints of illness. 

Changes in behavior, such as skipping school, being defiant. 

Poor academic performance in school. 

Loss of interest in friends or activities

Increasingly amounts of time spent alone. 

Hyperactivity, nightmares and aggressive behavior. 

More rarely, the child may experience hallucinations such as seeing things or hearing voices that aren't there. 

Diagnose

If you see these behaviors in your child, have him or her evaluated by a doctor. If physical symptoms have been ruled out, then the child will be referred to a psychiatrist for further evaluation and treatment.  Mental health problems in children are more difficult to diagnose because some of the symptoms a child may have might be normal as part of the child's development.  Getting ongoing treatment for the child is important and will probably include medication and therapy.  Knowing how to detect mental problems in children will get them the help they need.