Mental Health Screening

Mental Health Screening For Children In Tucson, AZ

 When you’re thinking about your child and their needs, you often may forget that their mental health is just as important as their physical health. If they are struggling with mental health issues, it can impact their life and make it difficult to function on a daily basis. It’s important to talk to your child’s pediatrician about mental health screenings and identify the signs that your child may be struggling with their mental health. Here at Mesquite Pediatrics, our pediatricians are dedicated to providing assessments, evaluations, and recommendations for kids and their families who are dealing with mental health problems.

Mental Health Screenings for Your Child

 Your child may not always understand how to express their emotions and it’s important to be able to identify when they may need additional help navigating their mental health. If your child seems to be detached and isolated or if they act out often and have issues emoting, you may want to talk to their pediatrician about a mental health screening.

Your child’s pediatrician can perform a screening to see if your child might be dealing with mental health issues. Depending on their age, your child’s doctor might have them engage in play to see if there are any signs of issues that should be addressed. They will also talk to your child and see how they answer certain questions.

Mental health screenings are used to help identify mental health problems at an early stage so that your child can get the help that they need. It can be difficult to deal with as mental health problems escalate, which is why it’s important to intervene as early as possible to get the care your child needs.

Depression

While it’s normal for kids to feel sad, down, or frustrated at times, it’s also important to recognize when these could be signs of depression. Yes, kids can deal with depression, too. While symptoms will vary some of the most common ones include,

  • A decrease or increase in appetite
  • Sleeping more or less than usual
  • Withdrawing from social interactions
  • Feeling sad or hopeless
  • Low energy
  • Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
  • Physical ailments such as stomachaches that don’t seem to have a physical cause
  • Trouble focusing

If these symptoms last for more than two weeks and interfere with your child’s school, home, and social life then it’s time to talk with our pediatricians.

Anxiety

It’s natural for kids to feel nervous when they have to give a big presentation in front of the class or when visiting the dentist’s office; however, if your child is regularly fearful, anxious, worried, or afraid these could be telltale signs of anxiety. Sometimes it isn’t always easy to spot anxiety.

In fact, some children may become irritable and angry as opposed to showing the typical symptoms we associate with anxiety. If your child’s anxiety is getting to them or holding them back, our pediatricians are here to help.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders in young children may sound surprising but they can occur in children under 12. Eating disorders can be inherited, which means that if a parent or sibling has dealt with an eating disorder a child is significantly more likely to develop one.

Some signs of an eating disorder include,

  • Worry or concerns about their body image
  • Avoiding eating
  • Reducing how much they eat
  • Weight loss
  • Slow growth and development
  • Fear of stomachaches

If you’re concerned about eating habits in your child, this is something that you can and should bring up with a pediatrician right away. We can recommend therapy and other options to help improve your child’s relationship with food.

Your child’s mental health is as important as their physical health. If your child is showing signs of depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder, call Mesquite Pediatrics in Tucson, AZ to learn more about mental health screenings, at (520) 648-5437.

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