Taking action when you have concerns

If you have discussed your concerns with your child and either confirmed your intuition or still suspect your child is having difficulty with their mental health, consult your family doctor. 

Reach out to your child’s teacher, trusted relatives, coaches or close family friends to see if they have seen any recent changes in your child. This may also be good information to share with your doctor when voicing your concerns. 

When to seek help

As a parent, you should seek further professional help if your child’s strong emotions:

  • last longer than 2 weeks
  • are affecting the relationships around them
  • are impacting their day-to-day life
  • are a constant cause of concern or distress.

Healthcare professionals

There are several health professionals who may be included on your child’s mental health journey. This includes your family doctor, a pediatric mental health specialist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a case manager or a youth social worker.

Diagnosis of a mental health condition

A diagnosis of a mental health condition will come from a thorough examination of your child’s signs and symptoms. This may include a complete medical history, parent or carer interviews, a history of feelings of concern, standardised questionnaires, diagnostic tools and any past experience of physical or emotional trauma.

Treatment of a mental health condition

Treatment for mental health conditions in children falls under two broad umbrellas of: psychological treatment or medical treatment. 

  1. Psychological treatment includes cognitive behavioural therapy (working through mental challenges and finding new coping strategies), interpersonal psychotherapy (understanding how relationships affect thoughts, behaviours and feelings) or dialectical behaviour therapy (often used in borderline personality disorder to help control emotions).
  2. Medication for mental health conditions includes antidepressants, antipsychotic medication and mood stabilisers.

Supporting your child through their journey

As a parent or carer, you have an essential role to play in your child’s mental health journey. 

You are a trusted part of your child’s life and can help by:

  • learning more about your child’s mental health condition and what medication or therapies they may have been prescribed
  • asking questions about family support and counselling
  • working alongside your family doctor to help deal with any difficult behaviours which may present
  • find ways to relieve stress with your family and child
  • work with your child’s school or any social/sporting clubs.