Advice about Mental Illness and Children

While Morningside Recovery doesn’t offer treatment for children and teens, we strive to provide help for the community. Our own clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Waterman participated in an article with Fox News to discuss mental illness and children. We want to do our part in providing our community with the information they need to care for their children.

Signs of Mental Illness in Children

Dr. Waterman states in the article that the “signs look different than adults” when it comes to mental illness and children. When it comes to teen and depression, they tend to isolate themselves from their friends. They also tend to display conflict with their parents or other forms of authority. She also explains that the symptoms must be present for significantly longer than in adults to have a diagnosis. When it comes to children with anxiety, they tend to worry often and show fear of sleep, injury, and separation. Other symptoms that could hint at mental illness include:

• Sudden attachment to parents
• Increase in mood swings
• Destruction of property
• Harming of animals
• Obsession with death
• Changes in eating or sleeping

Mental Illness and Children: How to Proceed

If you begin to notice these symptoms, what should you do? Parents should head to their pediatrician to rule out anything physically wrong with their child. If nothing is found, help from a specilaist should be sought. When parents talk to their children, they should never use labels to make their loved one feel more comfortable. A parent should also make the effort to learn about the illness to better help their child.

Mental Health and Morningside Recovery

While Morningside Recovery offers addiction and mental health treatment options for adults, we recognize the need for this information for children. Many of our clients suffer from co-occurring disorders, which often include an undiagnosed mental illness along with addiction to manage their symptoms. If you need a mental health rehab, reach out to Morningside Recovery. Call us today at 855-631-2135 to learn about our available programs.