If your child is experiencing frequent sadness, your child could have depression. If your child feels anxious when experiencing new things, your child could have anxiety. Sadly, the mental health of children is often overlooked, but your child could need help from your pediatrician.

What You Need To Know About Children’s Mental Health

Mental health problems are just as common in children as in adults, but the issues frequently go unrecognized. Life changes such as moving to a new location, changing schools, losing friends and support, or death of a close family member can all cause difficulties with mental health.

Mental health services can help if your child is having difficulty in school, showing anxious behavior about school or social activities, complaining of frequent aches and pains, showing fits of temper or rage, having frequent nightmares, or having thoughts about self-harm or suicide.

A pediatrician doesn’t just help with children’s physical health. Your pediatrician can identify and help treat fear and anxiety disorders, sleeping and eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and manic or clinical depression, through medications, counseling, relaxation techniques, and dietary and lifestyle counseling.