Theraverse . December 19, 2022

Children often have ups and downs that affect the way they feel and behave. But sometimes children don’t ‘bounce back’ from the downs, and this starts to affect other parts of their lives. This can be a sign that children are having mental health problems.

Below are signs of mental health problems. If you notice any of these signs in your child, and the signs go on for more than a few weeks, it’s important to talk with your child and then get professional help.

Emotional and behavior signs
Your child:

• doesn’t seem to enjoy things the way they used to
• has repeated tantrums or consistently behaves in a defiant or aggressive way
• seems sad or unhappy, or cries a lot
• is afraid or worried a lot
• gets very upset about being separated from you, or avoids social situations
• starts behaving in ways that they’ve outgrown, like sucking their thumb or wetting the bed
• has trouble paying attention, can’t sit still or is restless.

Physical signs
Your child:

• isn’t sleeping well or oversleeps
• has difficulty getting out of bed
• has trouble eating or overeats
• has lost or gained a lot of weight
• has physical pain that doesn’t have a clear medical cause – for example, headaches, stomach aches, nausea or other physical pains.

School and social signs
If your child is at school, you might also notice your child:

• isn’t doing as well as usual at school
• is having problems fitting in at school or getting along with other children
• doesn’t want to go to school
• isn’t doing what their teacher asks
• has withdrawn from their friends
• doesn’t want to go to social events like birthday parties or usual activities like sport.