Children, like adults, are susceptible to depression and anxiety during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Even before the pandemic began claiming lives and jobs, and upending routines, one in six children in the U.S. struggled with a mental health disorder each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
During Mental Health Month, NewBridge Services encourages parents to learn warning signs for mental illness in children.
“It’s natural for children to worry sometimes, but not for that worry to mushroom into overwhelming anxiety,” said NewBridge Services CEO Michelle Borden, a licensed clinical social worker.
“It’s so important to get a child help early, so more serious problems don’t follow them into adulthood,” Borden said. Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, 75% by age 24, according to NAMI.
Disrupted routines can, in themselves, cause behavioral problems, and establishing a new normal is key. The National Institute of Mental Health said the following behaviors may signal a mental disorder:
Children who are putting their safety at risk, or who talk about wanting to hurt themselves or others should be evaluated immediately.
Parents of a young child should consider seeking an evaluation if he/she:
An evaluation may be in order for an older child/teen who:
If you suspect your child is struggling with anxiety over COVID-19, talk to them, and answer their questions at their level of understanding. Limit exposure to news coverage, including social media. With older children, share how you cope with stress. Let them know it’s OK to feel upset. Get the family in a daily routine.
If worrisome behaviors persist for weeks, get help. NewBridge’s licensed clinicians are conducting telehealth counseling sessions; call (973) 316-9333 to schedule an appointment. (NewBridge accepts most insurances.)
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