Being diagnosed with heart disease or undergoing heart surgery and then subsequently adopting a number of lifestyle changes is often stressful on the patient. Cardiac rehab will also help the individual to cope better.

Just as we keep track of physical development in children through certain milestones, parents must also watch out for red flags in their child’s emotional development. Every child at some point feels sad or has an angry outburst. However, if they are unable to overcome these extreme emotions, thus leading to change in their overall behaviour could indicate the onset of some psychological trouble that needs to be addressed at the earliest.

One of the biggest impediments in treating childhood mental health issues, is realising, and then accepting there is a problem. Most parents do not recognise the problem in their child until it starts impacting the child’s studies and social skills. Then too getting professional help, is seen as a taboo and many parents prefer to brush aside the signs as a phase. While in some cases, this may be true and the child will overcome it with time, in other cases the sooner the child sees a doctor, the better.

Some children’s mental health disorders include:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Commonly referred to as ADHD, children with this disorder have difficulty in paying prolonged attention to one specific activity. They are fidgety and hyperactive, and often display impulsive behaviour.

Depression: This is a state of extreme sadness that often leads to social withdrawal. The child is unable to overcome a certain loss and the emotional stress penetrates every aspect of his/her life.

Anxiety Disorders: Most often with children it is social anxiety that makes them extremely tense in situations that involve speaking before their own class or participating in any social events. Their fears and worries override all other senses, making it impossible for them to participate in activities that are appropriate to their age.

Anxiety Disorders: Most often with children it is social anxiety that makes them extremely tense in situations that involve speaking before their own class or participating in any social events. Their fears and worries override all other senses, making it impossible for them to participate in activities that are appropriate to their age.

Mood Disorders: Some children have extreme mood swings. They can go from happy and cheerful, to silent and impenetrable in a second and for no perceivable reason. These extreme emotional highs and lows, make them unpredictable and can lead to behaviour that is harmful for their physical well-being.

Eating Disorders: Extreme stress and an unrealistic body image often leads to eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are the most common disorders. They have an emotional and physiological impact on the child.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Children who have been subject to emotional or physical abuse/trauma suffer from PTSD. They may display symptoms of anxiety, fear, or depression even long after the trauma-causing event has ended.

RED FLAG SIGNS

• – Continuous Social withdrawal
• – Being sad/ depressed for over 2 weeks
• – Inability to sleep
• – Poor intake of food
• – Sudden loss of weight
• – Self-harm
• – Drastic changes in mood and behaviour
• – Increased aggressive behaviour
• – Difficulty in concentrating
• – Sudden drop in grades at school
• – Talking about suicide and death

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child and they last for over two weeks, you need to share the information with a mental health professional. Therapy and treatment for your child will be based on the signs and symptoms – hence it is especially important to give as much information as possible to the doctor. Hiding or holding back details on family health history or about the child will only delay progress in the treatment.

MANAGEMENT

Parents fear that their child might be institutionalised if they are diagnosed with a mental disorder. This is not the case – unless the child displays extreme behavioural disorders that make him/her a threat to their own life or the life of others, will being admitted to the hospital be considered. The usual course of action involves a full medical evaluation of the child followed by Psychotherapy and medication.

Psychotherapy encourages the child to talk and express his/her feelings vocally, rather than holding back and acting out in some other way. The child is taught how to deal with their feelings and cope better in social situations that stress them out. For incredibly young children psychotherapy is done via games and art, and in adolescents it is more of a ‘no-pressure chat’ with a therapist. Medication may be given to support the treatment – to help ease anxiety. The parents should be made aware of side-effects of the drugs.

At home, parents must create a positive environment for their child. Nurture them with love and care. Discuss with the doctor what type of disorder their child has, and they should educate themselves on the same, in order to have a better understanding of what their child is going through and to accordingly help them overcome their troubles. If family counselling is required, go for it – this will show the child that the parents are ready to do whatever it takes. Family support plays an equally, if not more, key role as psychotherapy in helping the child overcome their mental health issues.

Reviewed By:

DR.SAVITHA.A

JUNIOR CONSULTANT – PAEDIATRICS

MBBS, DNB(PAEDIATRICS)