Advocating for your child
According to mental health experts, it is a known fact that 1 in 5 children will experience symptoms and signs of a psychiatric disorder during the course of the school year. At any point in time, some nine million children have serious emotional problems. In spite of these numbers, however, only 1 in 5 of these children is receiving appropriate treatment. Teachers and parents should seek a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional specifically trained to work with children and adolescents whenever they suspect a child may be having emotional problems.
The symptoms and signs of adolescent and childhood emotional problems may include: School problems; Frequent fighting; Trouble sleeping; Feeling sad; Thoughts about running away or suicide; Excessive weight gain or loss; Disturbing or troubling; The use of alcohol or drugs; Isolation or withdrawal; Killing or injuring animals; Lying or stealing; Mood swings; Setting fires; Compulsive behaviors or obsessive thoughts; Self destructive or dangerous behavior; Trouble paying attention; Frequent worries or anxiety.
Throughout the evaluation process, parents should be directly involved and ask numerous questions. It’s important to make sure that you understand the full range of treatment options, your child’s diagnosis, and the results of the evaluation. If parents are confused about specific treatment recommendations or options or not comfortable with a particular clinician, they should consider a second opinion.
Prior to a child beginning treatment, parents should be sure to ask certain questions including; What are the recommended treatment options for my child?; How will I be involved with my child’s treatment?; How will we know if the treatment is working?; How long should it take before I see improvement?; Will medication help my child?; If the problems get worse, what should I do?, and; What are the arrangements if I need to reach you after-hours or in an emergency?
You may also need to advocate having your child seen in a timely way, by the clinician deemed most appropriate. Most insurance plans now may utilize provider panels having only a few mental health professionals. However, most states now have enacted laws regarding the appropriate access to specialists. Should you have questions or problems, you should try to call the Department of Consumer affairs at your insurance company, the Department of Insurance, or the Patient Advocate/Ombudsman.
Ongoing parental support and involvement are essential to the overall success of treatment. Depending on the nature of your child’s problems, it may also be important to involve the juvenile justice system, communities, or school. In addition, it may be helpful to learn how to access other support services such as home based programs, parent skill building, or respite. Local advocacy groups can also provide valuable support, experience, and other information, for parents.
Although serious emotional problems are common in adolescence and childhood, they are also very treatable. By advocating for appropriate intervention, parents can help make sure their children get the help they need, and reduce or eliminate the risk of prolonged emotional difficulties.
