WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

Childhood is characterized by periods of transition and reorganizations, making it critical to assess the mental health of children and adolescents in the context of familial, social, and cultural expectations about age-appropriate thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Mental disorders and mental health problems appear in families of all social classes and of all backgrounds. No one is immune. Yet there are children who are a t greatest risk by virtue of a broad array of factors. These include physical problems; intellectual disabilities (retardation); low birth weight; family history of mental and addictive disorders; multigenerational poverty; and caregiver separation or abuse and neglect. A range of effective psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments exists for many mental disorders in children.

Raising a child is both rewarding and challenging. Parents and guardians do their best to provide their child with a safe and loving environment where the child can learn and grow. It can be challenging for a family if a child shows symptoms of a mental illness. If a young child exhibits some of the outward, behavioral signs listed below, an evaluation by a mental health professional could be useful.

•  Decline in school performance and grades even though the child is trying hard
•  Displays of anxiety, such as refusal to go to school or to participate in normal activities for the child’s age
•  Persistent nightmares
•  Disobedience or aggression lasting longer than six months
•  Hyperactivity that goes beyond regular play
•  Frequent, unexplained outbursts of anger or crying or the reverse, being extremely quiet and withdrawn

While the child is struggling with his or her mental health, the child’s family may also be experiencing a wide variety of difficult emotions. While mental illnesses are common, it may be tough for parents to accept that their child is living with one. As a result, parents may experience feelings of guilt or feel that they are to blame. They may be concerned about the reaction of relatives and friends, or angry that this is happening to a member of their own family. Parents also need to be careful that they do not overexert themselves in efforts to care for the mentally ill child or to help the child succeed.

The fourth edition of “The NAMI Wisconsin Family and Consumer Resource Guide” lists advice for families who have a child with a mental illness from families in similar situations. Their advice includes:

• Avoid guilt and placing blame
• Learn all you can about the illness
• Find out about support systems and utilize them
• Do not expect and insist that all peculiar behaviors are corrected at once. Focus on what is accomplished, not on what is not accomplished
• Anticipate troublesome situations
• Remember other family members (siblings, grandparents, etc.) are affected, too, and may be experiencing denial, guilt and depression like you. Keep communication open by talking with them about this

During this time of adjustment for both the child and the family, give the child unconditional love and praise to encourage them and raise their self-esteem. Also, continue to provide the child with appropriate guidance and discipline in safe and secure surroundings.