Emotional Problems-Advocating For Your Child

 

Some nine million children have serious emotional problems at any

point in time. Yet, only 1 in 5 of these children are receiving

appropriate treatment.

 

When parents or teachers suspect that a child may have an emotional

problem, they should seek a comprehensive evaluation by a mental

health professional specifically trained to work with children and

adolescents.

 

Signs and symptoms of childhood and adolescent emotional problems

may include (go to below link).

 

Ongoing parental involvement and support are essential to the overall

success of treatment. Depending on the nature of your child's problems,

it may also be important to involve the school, community agencies,

and/or juvenile justice system.

 

Many states now have laws concerning reasonable access to specialists.

If you have problems or questions, try calling the Department of Insurance,

the Patient Ombudsman/Advocate, or the Department of Consumer Affairs

at your insurance company. See:
http://www.familymanagement.com/facts/english/advocating_child.html

 

Emotional Problems-

Know When to Seek Help for Your Child

 

Parents are usually the first to recognize that their child has a problem

with emotions or behavior. Still, the decision to seek professional

help can be difficult and painful for a parent.

 

The first step is to gently try to talk to the child. An honest open talk

about feelings can often help. Parents may choose to consult with the

child's physicians, teachers, members of the clergy, or other adults who

know the child well. These steps may resolve the problems for the

child and family.

 

Following are a few signs which may indicate that a child and adolescent

psychiatric evaluation will be useful.
See: http://www.familymanagement.com/facts/english/facts24.html

 

 

Emotional Problems-

Knowing Where To Find Help For Your Child

 

A child's emotional distress often causes disruption to both the

parent's and the child's world. Parents may have difficulty being

objective. They may blame themselves or worry that others such

as teachers or family members will blame them.

 

If you are worried about your child's emotions or behavior, you can

start by talking to friends, family members, your spiritual counselor,

your child's school counselor, or your child's pediatrician or family

physician about your concerns.

 

If you think your child needs help, you should get as much information

as possible about where to find help for your child. Parents should

be cautious about using Yellow Pages phone directories as their only

source of information and referral. Other sources of information include

See:  http://www.familymanagement.com/facts/english/facts25.html

 

Emotional Problems

-The Continuum of Care for Children And Adolescents

 

A complete range of programs and services is called the continuum

of care. Not every community has every type of service or program

on the continuum.

 

The beginning point for parents concerned about their child's behavior

or emotions should be an evaluation by a qualified mental health

professional such as a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

 

Many of the programs on the continuum offer a variety of different

treatments, such as individual psychotherapy, family therapy, group

therapy, and medications.

 

A brief description of the different services or programs in a continuum

of care follows.  See:

http://www.familymanagement.com/facts/english/facts42.html

 

 

Emotional or Behavioral Problems In Children