Mental Health Awareness: Children and Adolescents

A lot has been thrown at the Brisbane community over the last months, in addition to the already challenging last two years. The recent Brisbane floods and the impact of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on us all in many ways. In term one of 2022, schools had a delayed start due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and were interrupted again by the floods halfway through the term. It was a disruptive start to the year, to say the least!

In 2020, one in three young people aged 12-25 reported high to very high levels of distress, and every year, approximately one in seven children and young people experience a mental health disorder. As parents, family members, and supports to the young people in our community, we need to keep in mind the impacts that these stressors may have on our children.

Warning signs include:

Greater reluctance to attend school or their usual activities, such as sports or catching up with friends.
Changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping more or less) and experiencing greater fatigue.
Appearing more sad or irritable than usual and experiencing greater difficulty regulating their emotions.
Change in appetite, either eating more or less.
No longer enjoying the things they normally do.
Greater difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
Being more withdrawn and less talkative

Here's what parents & guardians can do to help:

Share with your young person your concerns and the changes that you may have noticed. Headspace has some great ideas for helping you start the conversation about mental health. However, ensure the conversation is brought up at an appropriate time and place, and consider how to start the conversation in a non-judgemental and supportive way. Make sure you are in a frame of mind where YOU are ready to support and coach, not criticise.
Set aside some regular time for check-ins, such as going for a walk together or having a tea together, so that they feel supported and have the opportunity to share the challenges they might be going through.
Monitor your young person’s mood and behaviour and how this might change over time. It might be a good idea to start a journal or make some notes in your phone of the changes you see.
Depending on how old your young person is, it might be worthwhile checking in with their teachers at school to see whether they have noticed any changes in mood or behaviour.
Strive for consistency. There have been so many changes to day-to-day life over the past few years, however, we know that children and adolescents benefit from a sense of predictability and stability in their daily lives. This may be through established family rituals like family dinners, or the small moments, like their bedtime routines.

If you have noticed significant changes in your young persons’ mood or behaviour, they are likely to benefit from these professional support services:

To access therapy and support from a psychologist, visit your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan. This will ensure that you can receive Medicare rebates to reduce the cost of the sessions (N.B. you are likely to still need to pay a gap fee).
You can book an appointment with a GP for a Mental Health Care Plan
Support lines:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Webchat
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or Webchat

Check out the resources from Headspace, Raising Children Network, and Kids Helpline for more information.

Here's what parents and guardians can expect when seeking mental health support for children:

It is important to consider the ‘fit’ of a psychologist or therapist to your child. The relationship between the client and therapist is a big factor in the outcomes of therapy. The team at Growlife Medical know a lot of local psychologists and can help guide this to help you find a fit, and someone with availability.
Consider whether now is the right time for you and your family. We want young people to have a positive experience, and ‘forcing’ them to attend may make them less likely to want to return in the future.
The first session or first few sessions will involve initial assessments and history taking, so do expect that there may be no active ‘intervention’ for several appointments.
Your child may be more comfortable with you or without you in the room. This varies, so consider what may suit your child better to help them open up.