#1 Observation

YOU may have observed some concerning behavior in your child which makes you realize action is necessary in order to begin moving in a direction of wellness.  

OR your child has come to you --consider it serious! I found it means, “please help me”. They need your attention, care, and most of all love, gentleness, and understanding to help them out of this. 

IMPORTANT:  if your child has or is engaged in self harm or has suicidal ideations, Take immediate action. Don’t be afraid to get them to a professional or hospital, even if they don’t agree. 

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

#2 Conversation

If you’re concerned your child is having a mood disorder or behavioral changes, find the right time and space to have a conversation.

This conversation is not about addressing their behavior but how they are feeling emotionally and what they are thinking. If they have come to you and shared their struggling emotionally take this seriously and take action. 

Don’t be fearful - they could express their feelings as loneliness, depressed, just cry or sometimes they’re not even certain what they feel.  They may not know what stable emotions feel like. Or what may be normal to you. They are so young and don’t have life experience enough to relate the past to. 

#3 Consideration

Sometimes occurrences that we as parents don’t consider to be serious or damaging throughout a child’s life are often overlooked.  But these have potential to affect long term mental health for a child.

Consider mom’s health during pregnancy or trauma during child birth. Stress in the birth canal or forceps to deliver the baby, can cause disruption to the development of a newborn’s brain (not always the case) but something to consider and often overlooked as well.

 Also, all the bumps and bruises to the head throughout childhood and teen years: (Falls off a bike, out of tree, falling out of bed, or sports related injuries, etc...)  (Un)diagnosed concussions are silent injuries that go untreated play a huge role and needs to be considered.

Other incidents can also play a part in your child/teens mental health that are not always obvious and worth considering…

#4 Action

After considering some of the potential biological issues, any troubling behavior you have noticed,  and the traumas your child may have experienced, taking action is next.  The main thing is to determine if your child’s moods or behavioral changes are simply situational and will pass, or are chronic or extreme issues requiring clinical help. Talk with your pediatrician, find a therapist, psychiatrist, homeopathic doctor, a nutritionist, neurofeedback care, church/youth leaders etc.. 

Before you take action, PRAY!  Ask God to guide you, keep you calm, and direct you to people you can safely lean on through this process.

Each child’s steps to getting help will be different, and each will have a different result.  Working with a team of professionals can reassure you of going in the right direction for more complex issues.