{
    "id": 2625,
    "date": "2021-05-19T04:18:48",
    "date_gmt": "2021-05-18T22:48:48",
    "guid": {
        "rendered": "http:\/\/emindit.com\/?page_id=2625"
    },
    "modified": "2023-11-06T15:46:15",
    "modified_gmt": "2023-11-06T10:16:15",
    "slug": "supporting-adolescents",
    "status": "publish",
    "type": "post",
    "link": "https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/en\/supporting-adolescents\/",
    "title": {
        "rendered": "Supporting adolescents"
    },
    "content": {
        "rendered": "<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2625\" class=\"elementor elementor-2625\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-793efda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"793efda\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7fc7419\" data-id=\"7fc7419\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-091146d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"091146d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adolescents need many skills in order to successfully achieve their goal of increased independence. Some adolescents do not make this change smoothly. Their movement toward independence can cause stress and grief for parents and families.. A parent-child relationship which is very stressful or troubled during the preadolescent years can be a strong signal that professional help may be needed. Parents&#8217; investment of time and energy in the child&#8217;s early years can prevent small problems of childhood from becoming larger problems of adolescence.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part of the parental commitment to their children and adolescents is to be a source of support to depend upon, at least until young people have the age and experience and determination to fully depend upon themselves.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life&#8217;s major changes experienced during adolescence \u2013 academic pressure, gaining independence from parents, intimate relationships with peers, physical maturation, starting romantic relationships, expectations from parents, etc. \u2013 are accompanied by a drastic increase in the frequency at which stressful events occur These changes and stressful events during adolescence may elevate to maladaptive behaviour and problems, such as depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms , among others.A safe and successful passage from adolescence into adulthood is the right of every child. This right can only be fulfilled if families and societies make focused investments and provide opportunities to ensure that adolescents and youth progressively develop the knowledge, skills and resilience needed for a healthy, productive and fulfilling life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting early is the best way for parents to prepare for their child&#8217;s adolescence<\/span><b>.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The following are ways that parents can prepare themselves and their child for a smoother transition and greater success in achieving the tasks of adolescent development:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing a stable, safe and loving home environment<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating an atmosphere of honesty, mutual trust, and respect<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a culture of open communication at family meal times<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowing age appropriate independence and assertiveness<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing a relationship that encourages your child to talk to you<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teaching responsibility for their belongings and yours<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teaching basic responsibility for household chores<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teaching the importance of accepting limits<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teaching the importance of thinking before acting<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are complex processes which occur gradually and start during infancy. A teenager&#8217;s adolescent years will be less stressful when parents and child have worked together on these tasks throughout the child&#8217;s earlier development.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ability to talk openly about problems is one of the most important aspects of the parent and child relationship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing this relationship and open communication takes time, persistence, and understanding. The relationship develops gradually by spending time with the teen. One challenge is finding quality, not rushed time for parents to spend with their adolescents; as schedules with after school activities, sports and jobs become busy during adolescence.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Family meal times, sharing stories of parents&#8217; adolescence, playing board games, outings, vacations, and celebrations are important opportunities for parents to spend time with their adolescent. Parents should also try to spend some individual time with each child, praising positive behaviors and talking about difficult or upsetting things. This relationship creates the foundation for talking with the child when struggles and conflicts emerge during adolescence.<\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p><h4><b>The human rights of adolescents and youth include, among others:\u00a0<\/b><\/h4><ul><li>Life, liberty and security<\/li><li>Health\u00a0<\/li><li>Education\u00a0<\/li><li>Information\u00a0<\/li><li>Expression\u00a0<\/li><li>Association\u00a0<\/li><li>Freedom from discrimination\u00a0<\/li><li>Freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment including sexual violence<\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>Consent to marriage\u00a0<b><br \/><\/b><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Source: <\/b>The Universal Declaration of Human Rights<\/p><h4><b>Levels of Parental Risk and protective factors<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Factors or circumstances associated with the risk of children experiencing mental health problems include family structure (such as lone parent, reconstituted families, large families); educational attainment of parents, poverty and low socioeconomic status.Four groups of young people as being particularly vulnerable to mental health problems. These groups were children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, homeless young people and those who get in trouble with the law.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0It is clear that parenting style has a critical impact on children\u2019s emotional and cognitive development. Key protective factors include feeling loved, trusted and understood, having interest in life, optimism, autonomy, self-acceptance, and resilience.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parental support can be extreme sometimes\u00a0 &#8211; it is either inadequate (leave the child for example) or excessive (overprotection, for example.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the parent leaves the child, young people can wrestle with such issues as anxiety, insecurity, basic distrust, fear of commitment, low self-esteem, or high need for control.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0&#8220;My parents were so caught up in divorcing each other and remarrying other people they just weren&#8217;t there for me,&#8221; is how one young person put it. &#8220;So I&#8217;ve had to count on myself.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cases of overprotection, young people can wrestle with such issues as dependency, lack of confidence, low self-reliance, immaturity, or irresponsibility from constant rescuing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;My parents probably took too much care of me for my own good,&#8221; confessed another young person. &#8220;Any time life got hard or I got into trouble, they jumped in to help me out, and they still do.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health affects the way people think, feel and act. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as having a healthy body. As a parent, you play an important role in your child&#8217;s mental health:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can <\/span><b>promote good mental health<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the things you say and do, and through the environment you create at home.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also learn about the <\/span><b>early signs of mental health problems <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and know where to go for help.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4>\u00a0<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0be07a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"0be07a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-toggle{text-align:start}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin:0;padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon{display:inline-block;width:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon svg{margin-inline-start:-5px;width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon.elementor-toggle-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active{border-bottom:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-toggle-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-content{padding:12px 10px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-toggle,.e-con>.elementor-widget-toggle{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1241\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1241\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How can I nurture my child\u2019s mental health?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1241\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1241\"><p><b>Help children build strong, caring relationships:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important for children and youth to have strong relationships with family and friends. Spend some time together each night around the dinner table.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A significant person who is consistently present in a child\u2019s life plays a crucial role in helping them develop resilience. This person\u2014often a parent or other family member\u2014is someone your child spends a lot of time with and knows they can turn to when they need help.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Show your children how to solve problems.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Help children and youth develop <\/b><b>self-esteem<\/b><b>, so that they feel good about themselves:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Show lots of love and acceptance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Praise them when they do well. Recognize their efforts as well as what they achieve.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask questions about their activities and interests.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help them set realistic goals.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Listen, and respect their feelings:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s OK for children and youth to feel sad or angry. Encourage them to talk about how they feel.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep communication and conversation flowing by asking questions and listening to your child. Mealtime can be a good time for talking.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help your child find someone to talk to if they don\u2019t feel comfortable talking to you.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Create a safe, positive home environment:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be aware of your child\u2019s media use, both the content and the amount of time spent on screens. This includes TV, movies, Internet, and gaming devices. Be aware of who they might be interacting with on social media and online games.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be careful about discussing serious family issues\u2014such as finances, marital problems, or illness\u2014around your children. Children can worry about these things.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide time for physical activity, play, and family activities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be a role model by taking care of your own mental health: Talk about your feelings. Make time for things you enjoy.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>In difficult situations, help children and youth solve problems:<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teach your child how to relax when they feel upset. This could be deep breathing, doing something calming (such as a quiet activity they enjoy), taking some time alone, or going for a walk.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk about possible solutions or ideas to improve a situation and how to make it happen. Try not to take over.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1242\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1242\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How common are mental health problems among children and youth?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1242\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1242\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health issues can affect youth at any age. But certain situations can place some young people at a higher risk, including:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A family history of mental illness.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New immigrants and refugees who experience difficult economic circumstances.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LGBTQ children and youth who experience bullying and\/or rejection from their families.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Big life changes such as moving to a new city or new school, caregiver separation or divorce, serious illness or death in a close relative or friend.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facing or witnessing trauma, including abuse.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Substance use.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, too many children and youth don\u2019t get help soon enough. Mental health disorders can prevent children and youth from succeeding in school, from making friends, or becoming independent from their parents. Children and youth with mental health disorders may have trouble reaching their developmental milestones.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is that <\/span><b>mental health disorders are treatable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There are many different approaches to helping children and youth struggling with emotional or mental health problems. Getting help early is important. It can prevent problems from becoming more serious, and can lessen the effect they have on your child\u2019s development.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1243\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1243\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How do I know if my child or youth has a mental health problem?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1243\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1243\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All children and youth are different. If you\u2019re concerned your child may have a problem, look at whether there are changes in the way they think, feel or act. Mental health problems can also lead to physical changes. Ask yourself how your child is doing at home, at school and with friends.<\/span><\/p><h4><strong>Changes in thinking<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saying negative things about themselves or blaming themselves for things beyond their control.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble concentrating.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequent negative thoughts.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in school performance.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4><strong>Changes in feelings<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reactions or feelings that seem bigger than the situation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeming very unhappy, worried, guilty, fearful, irritable, sad, or angry.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling helpless, hopeless, lonely or rejected.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4><strong>Changes in behaviour<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wanting to be alone often.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crying easily.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Showing less interest in or withdrawing from sports, games or other activities that they normally enjoy.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over-reacting, or sudden outbursts of anger or tears over small incidents.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeming quieter than usual, less energetic.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble relaxing or sleeping.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending a lot of time daydreaming.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falling back to less mature behaviours.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble getting along with friends.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4><strong>Physical changes<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches, tummy aches, neck pain, or general aches and pains.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of energy, or feeling tired all the time.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleeping or eating problems.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too much energy or nervous habits such as nail biting, hair twisting or thumb sucking.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Remember<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Just because you notice one or more of these changes does not mean your child or youth has a mental health problem.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1244\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1244\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-caret-right\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><i class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened fas fa-caret-up\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Where do I go for help?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1244\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1244\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are many ways to help your child achieve good mental health. Sharing your concerns with the doctor is one of them. Talk to your child\u2019s doctor:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if the behaviours described above last for a while, or if they interfere with your child\u2019s ability to function;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">if you have concerns about your child\u2019s emotional and mental health;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about your child\u2019s behavioural development and emotional health at each well-child visit.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><b>If your child or teen talks about suicide or harming themselves, call your doctor or local mental health crisis line right away.<\/b><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>",
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