Children’s Mental Health - Bupa
Children’smental health:a parent’s guide
This guide focuses on the most common issues - anxiety disorders anddepression - we hope that the tips and guidance can be used to helpyou start an important conversation about mental health and resiliencewith your children.Contents2.Foreword31.What is mental health?42.What is a mental health problem?53.Childhood challenges64.The changing conversation on mental health75.Spotting the signs8Generalised anxiety disorder9Social anxiety10Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)11What is depression?126.Starting the conversation147.Treating and managing mental health concerns in childhood168.Boosting mental health and resilience in childhood199.People like you2110. Looking after yourself23Places you can find more information24
ForewordThe conversation about mental health has changed sinceI started my career. As a society we are now far more openand willing to discuss experiences of poor mental healththanks, in part, to high profile individuals and celebritiessharing their stories.At Bupa, we work with families to safeguard their mentalhealth, recognising the positive impact an early diagnosisand fast access to treatment can have on someone who isstruggling with their mental health.Industry figures show that one in 10 children experiencemental ill health. Our specialist support colleagues talk toparents who have questions about how to identify if theirchild may need support with their mental health, helpingthem with how to start a conversation on mental healthand how to build their child’s resilience.We found that only 36% of parents say that they would beable to find the right words to talk to their children abouttheir mental health and wellbeing.We’ve created this guide to help any parent, carer orguardian who is concerned that their child may bestruggling with a mental health condition. We hopethat it will empower parents who are worriedabout their child’s mental health and ensurethat more children receive support whenthey need it.Pablo VandenabeeleClinical Director of Mental Healthat Bupa UK3.
Chapter 1What ismental health?Mental health refers to the ability to function anddeal with daily life and everything it presents.When we hear the phrase ‘mental health’, we often thinkabout mental health problems. We think of symptomssuch as low mood and conditions such as depression oranxiety.In fact, everyone has mental health. You and yourfamily will have times when your mental health isgood – and times when it is not as good. Just likephysical health.Throughout your life there may be times when you’llexperience low mood, fear, anxiety or confusion.These feelings are a common part of everydaylife and don’t always mean you have amental health problem.4.
Chapter 2What is a mental healthproblem?Mental ill health refers to a group of conditions that affects how a personthinks, interacts with others and copes with the demands of everyday life,leading to significant changes in feelings or behaviour.Sometimes moods, thoughts, experiences or reactions to things may feeldifficult for a long time and affect your life and how you want to live. Thismight be a mental health problem.Mental health and wellbeingissues in childrenIt can be hard for a parent toidentify as it can be difficult todistinguish between signs of aAll any parent wants for their childproblem from normal childhoodis for them to have a happy andbehaviour and children may nothealthy childhood. Knowing orhave the vocabulary to expresssuspecting that your child may havetheir concerns.a mental health problem can begreatly worrying and distressing forAs a healthcare provider, we receiveboth a parent and their child.calls from concerned parents everyday who want advice and guidanceOne in 10 children has a diagnosablemental health condition, equatingto roughly three children in everyclassroom.Our figures show that just 23% ofparents of young adults and childrenfeel confident that they would beable to identify the symptoms ofon a whole range of mental healthand wellbeing issues.This guide focuses mainly onanxiety and depression becausethey are the most common mentalhealth conditions in young childrenand adults and are also what mostof our calls from parents are about.mental ill health in their children.5.
Chapter 3Childhood challengesThe modern childhood can seemChanges such as moving home orvery different to those of theschool or the birth of a new brotherprevious generation.or sister, for example may act astriggers. Some children who start aAdvances in technology, the adventnew school will feel excited aboutof smartphones and social mediamaking new friends and doing newmake it easier for children to accessactivities, but there may also beinformation. It can also help them insome who will feel anxious abouttheir learning and ability to connectentering a new environment.with friends and family whereverthey are. However, it can potentiallyTeenagers often experiencehave a negative impact on a child’semotional upset as their minds andmental health and wellbeing. Thebodies develop and they make thisdesire to stay connected cantransition to adulthood. Some younginterfere with activities that buildpeople may experiment with alcohol,mental resilience such as socialising,drugs or other substances that caneating and sleeping. And theaffect mental health.constant images and updates onother people’s lives can cause asense of inadequacy.Children may experience a widerange of life events growing upthat they find difficult that won’tlead to mental health problems ontheir own, but traumatic eventscan trigger problems for childrenand young people who are alreadyvulnerable.6.
Chapter 4The changing conversationon mental healthOver recent years, the mental healthgrowing up. However, it can still feelconversation has changed withdaunting to address concerns abouthigh profile people such as Demiyour child’s mental health head-on.Lovato, Prince Harry, and RyanReynolds talking openly about theirWhen your child is slightly ‘out ofchallenges.sorts’ it can be hard to know whenor whether to be worried, how toThis has helped to reduce theapproach the situation, or where tostigma about mental health andturn for support.make society more open to talkabout challenges. Our figures showthat 70% of parents speak to theirchildren about their emotional healthand wellbeing more than their ownparents did.When it comes to mental health andresilience, early intervention plays akey role in helping children to thinkabout how to cope with difficultsituations and can potentiallyprevent problems from worseningCreating an environment whereand becoming more complex laterchildren feel comfortable talkingin life. It also can aid recoveryabout their mental health can helpand improve how a condition isyou to understand if your child ismanaged.struggling. It is clear that attitudesare changing across householdsin the UK, we found that 78% ofparents believe there is a greaterawareness of the importance ofconsidering children’s mentalwellbeing than when they wereWhile these focus on the mostcommon issues - anxiety disordersand depression - we hope that thetips and guidance can be usedto help you start an importantconversation about mental healthand resilience with your children,whatever the concern may be.7.
Chapter 5Spottingthe signsAs parents you are well-attuned to spotting any changes in your child’sbehaviour, but it may be more difficult to identify signs of mental healthconcerns. Many of the tell-tale signs may be character traits or dismissed asthe ‘growing pains’ of a teenager. Knowing what to look out for may helpyou identify whether there is a problem.What is anxiety?We can all feel anxious from time to time, but anxiety disorder has two coresymptoms: excessive anxiety on most days and difficulty controlling thesefeelings.There are different types of anxiety disorder ranging from generalisedanxiety disorder, where sufferers feel anxious much of the time, to panicdisorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias relating to specificthings.Anybody can suffer from anxiety and it is thought that one in six childrenand young people experience anxiety at some point.How do I know if my child has anxiety?There are several types of anxiety which are explained on the next page asthey affect everyone in different ways.8.
Generalised anxietydisorderis a long-term condition where someoneregularly feels very worried about a rangeof everyday things. There may not always bean obvious reason why they feel anxious.Below we’ve outlined the symptoms childrenmay experience if they have generalisedanxiety disorder.How they may feel:very worried about a number of everyday thingsfind it hard to control the worryrestless or nervousPhysical symptomsAnxiety isn’t just about how someone feels mentally, it may causea behaviour change and other physical symptoms too.They may also:feel nauseousexperience a shortness of breath or chest painfeel muscle tensionbecome tired easilyhave trouble sleeping well – possibly taking one or two hoursto go to sleep and waking up earlier than usualget unexplained or worsening aches and painshave constant headachesYou may notice them:struggling to concentrateexperiencing stomach problems9.
Social anxietydisorderis characterised by a persistentfear or anxiety about socialsituations that involve interaction.How they may feel:very anxious about being around other peopleand having to talk to themvery self-conscious in front of other people andworried about feeling humiliated, embarrassed or rejectedafraid that people will judge themworry in the lead up to a social eventYou may notice them:avoiding places where there will be other peoplecancelling planned social activitiesblushing, sweating or trembling around other people10.
Obsessive-compulsivedisorder (OCD)is a long-term condition characterisedby obsessive thoughts, compulsivebehaviour or both. Below we’veoutlined the symptoms someonetypically experiences if they haveobsessive-compulsive disorder.How they may feel:have unwanted thoughts, images or urges that repeatedlyenter their mindcompelled to repeat certain things (for example, checking thatdoors are locked) or repeat mental acts which people won’tsee, such as repeating a certain phrase in their headThey may also:fear contamination from dirt, germs and virusesdisplay excessive concern with order or symmetrydisplay aggressive obsessions – thinking about doing harmto their self or othersrepeatedly checking things, such as locks, light switching,the ovenYou may notice them:cleaning or washingarranging or touching objectshoarding or collecting things that have no userepeating certain acts or behaviours11.
What isdepression?It’s natural to have ups and downs– sometimes someone might feela bit low or be really upset andsad when something bad happens,such as losing someone they love.It’s common for people to say thatthey are ‘depressed’ when they arefeeling down.However, if the feeling of sadness lasts for a long period of timeand causes someone to lose interest in their life or things theyusually enjoy or affects how they think or behave, it’s possiblethey may have depression.Anybody can suffer from depression and it is thought to occurin around 1-3% of children and young people.How do I know if my child has depression?There are lots of symptoms of depression and they affect everyonein different ways, not everybody will have the same experience. Thetwo main symptoms of depression are having a low mood (feelingdown or hopeless) along with losing interest or pleasure in doingthings you usually enjoy.12.
How they may feel:sad all the time or not enjoying or wanting todo any of the things they usually wouldguiltyhelplessworthless or have a loss of self-esteemor self-confidencehopeless or that it’s too hard or painful tolive and have thoughts about running away orescaping their life. They may also have thoughtsabout harming themselves or self-harmPhysical symptomsDepression isn’t just about how someone feels mentally,there are physical symptoms too. Aches and pains aresometimes what people notice first.They may also:cry in situations where they wouldn’t usually cryfeel tired and lack energyhave trouble sleeping – possibly taking one or twohours to go to sleep and waking up earlier than usualget unexplained or worsening aches and painshave constant headachesfeel restless or agitatedhave poor concentration and find it difficult tomake decisionsYou may notice them:gaining or losing weight as a result of a change inappetite – either eating more or not being hungryavoiding family and friends or cancelling plans13.
Chapter 6Starting theconversationAs every parent knows, each child is different. There isn’t a onesize fits all approach to having an open conversation about mentalhealth but these tips may help:It may be tempting to tell your child that you’re worried aboutthem, but that may put them on edge and make them clam upor rebuff your questionsSimply asking your child how they are is more likely to lead toa more positive conversationExplain that mental health is about our range of emotionsand how we cope with our lives and that mental health canfluctuate daily – just like our physical healthUsing phrases such as “there’s no need to worry about that”can undermine their feelings and doesn't offer them a solutionWhen they share how they feel, acknowledge it14.
As upsetting as it may be to hear that your child is struggling with theirmental health, try to remain calm. If they sense that you’re agitated itmay cause them to become nervous and stop them feeling comfortableenough to open upIf you are noticeably upset, try to explain that they shouldn’t worry ifyou’re upset, and that you want to support themTry to dispel any myths they might have about mental illness.Explain that it is just like other medical illnesses, in that help is availableDon’t be put off asking if you have concerns. Explain that you’re therefor them and listen without judgingIf you think your child may be showing signs that they are struggling withtheir mental health it’s important to seek medical support as soon aspossible, in most cases this should be your local GP.They may suggest a ‘wait and see’ approach, but the key thing is that it’snow been logged with your GP.15.
Chapter 7Treating and managingmental health concernsin childhoodOur brains don’t finish developing until we are 25 years old which makestreating and managing mental health concerns in children more complexthan it is for adults.Children and young adults are more vulnerable to emotional distress andare less able to navigate potentially stressful situations. This means childrenmay seem to display signs of a mental health concern which is actually aresponse to other external factors such as academic pressure, bullying orbereavement.Either way, seeking medical guidance can help give you and your child peaceof mind and provide you with a possible way forward.If your child is experiencing challenges with their mental health, supportwill be provided by your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services(CAMHS) team. This multidisciplinary team of professionals may include:16.support workerspsychologistsschool – teachers andoccupational therapistsschool nursespsychological therapistsnurseschild and adolescentprimary mental healthpsychiatristslink workerschild psychotherapistsfamily therapistsspecialist substancesocial workersmisuse workers
Theysay ittakes avillageto raisea child.The CAMHS team will work together to help you andyour child to identify the problem, understand the causeand advise on what steps to take.They say it takes a village to raise a child and that iscertainly the case when it comes to supporting a childwith mental health issues.For a child to receive the most effective treatment it isimportant to get a full sense of their wellbeing. Theymay not be able to articulate this, but there are othersthat can help you to get a better idea of how they farethroughout the day.We would encourage you to talk to your child’s schoolso that the school’s medical team and special educationneeds (SEN) support team are aware of your concernsand they can help you to monitor any changes inbehaviour or mood. With children spending such aconsiderable amount of time at school, their teachersand the school’s nurses are well placed to help youidentify whether there may be any external pressureswhich may be having a negative impact on their mentalhealth.For many of us when we think about treating ormanaging a mental health concern, we automaticallythink of medication such as antidepressants as theremedy. However for the majority of pre-pubescentchildren and young adults, they will be prescribed talkingtherapy, which involves talking to a professional whois trained to help people deal with negative feelings orfeelings of distress, and help to identify any patternswhich it may be helpful to change.17.
If a child is prescribed medication we wouldencourage you to discuss it with your pharmacist.They are medicine experts and will be able to provideyou with support, dispelling any myths about potentialside effects and providing you with guidance for anyquestions you may have. If you have any concerns withthe prescription, you may wish to talk to your GP too.Discovering that your child is struggling withtheir mental health can be tough and upsetting, and88% of parents say that their child’s mental health hasan impact on all aspects of family life.Talking is key to recovery for children with mentalhealth conditions and having a strong support groupis essential for both you and your child. You maybenefit from attending groups or workshops designedfor parents with children who have a mental healthcondition.18.88%of parentssay that theirchild’s mentalhealth has animpact on allaspects offamily life.
Chapter 8Boosting mentalhealth and resiliencein childhoodFrom starting school and maintaining friendship groups to exampressure, the journey to adulthood can be difficult and your childis likely to experience many situations that they find upsetting,disappointing or that might make them angry, stressed or low.Improving your child’s mental resilience can help them to managetheir emotions and bounce back from a setback throughout theirlife. It can also help them to manage a mental health condition.Here are some things you can encourage your children to do whichwill boost their emotional resilience.Exercise: exercise is good for themind, as well as the body, and canhelp to release stress and anxiety.Encourage them to try differentEat and drink well: a healthy,sports or activities to findbalanced diet with plenty of fruit,something they enjoy or suggestvegetables and fibre can help toa family walk after dinner.maintain a steady level of energyand clear thinking. Keepinghydrated is also important inmaintaining energy.19.
Write things down: writing thingsMake a toolkit: put together a boxdown sometimes can help peopleof ‘tools’ for the times when they’reto see exactly what they’re feelingfeeling too low to come up with aand give them some control andplan or are struggling with ideas. Itunderstanding, especially for thosecould contain anything they knowwho don’t feel comfortable or can’twill occupy their mind and givefind the words to talk about it.them a break from their thoughts.For example, their favouritebook or magazine, some treats,a crossword. Or they could put innotes or a letter they’ve written toencourage themselves, or photosUse distraction techniques:of good times and memories.a distraction technique is an actionYounger children may find thatthat gives them a new focus anda ‘worry monster’ helps to makesome respite. It can be somethingthem feel more confident.simple such as reading a book,helping to prepare dinner or withthe weekly shop.Speak to people: it might seemhard at first but encouragingSleep well: a healthy sleep patternchildren to open up to friends andwill mean they are well reste
children about their emotional health and wellbeing more than their own parents did. Creating an environment where children feel comfortable talking about their mental health can help you to understand if your child is struggling. It is clear that attitudes are changing across households in the UK, we found that 78% of
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Mental Health, Mental Health Europe NGO and the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists7. "No health without mental health" has also been adopted by the Irish organisation Mental Health Ireland, Supporting Positive Mental Health. Burden of Mental Disorders Mental disorders have been found to be common, with over a third of people worldwide
3.2 european Policy 12 3.4 Happiness and wellbeing debates 14 4.0 Concepts and definitions: what is mental health? 15 4.1 Dual continuum model of mental health 16 4.2 Measuring mental health 17 5.0 Benefits of mental health promotion 19 5.1 Benefits of preventing mental illness 19 5.2 Benefits of promoting positive mental health 22
The private sector, which includes private health insurance, provides an extensive range of services to complement these. Bupa makes it possible for an overseas student to access a broad range of health services across both the public and private sectors. Healthcare in Australia What is Medicare? Medicare is Australia's universal system
Children's Mental Health As a part of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, addressing the mental health needs of children, youth and families is fundamental to the future of Fort Bend County. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our communities and we must not overlook the psychological impact on our children's mental health.
3.1 Prevalence of mental ill health 9 3.2 Mental health service need 9 3.3 Mental health service provision gap 10 3.4 Housing system and homelessness 10 3.5 Entries into homelessness 11 3.6 Mental health and housing system capacity 12. 4 Links between housing and mental health 13 5 Housing for people with lived experience of mental ill health 16
A mental health policy (1996) and plan (2007-2011) existed. Emergency and disaster plans for mental health did not exist. Legislation A new Mental Health Act 846 2012 was passed in 2012 and was awaiting Government to establish the Mental Health Board. Financing of mental health services Mental health had a ring-fenced budget of 1.4% of
