It is a welcome change to see that mental health is no longer taboo amongst younger generations with young people talking much more freely about feelings and emotions in the main. It does not exclude them however from experiencing the many challenges of growing up. Children and adolescents can be affected by many things including:

• Depression & Anxiety
• Eating Disorders & Body Dysmorphia
• Eco anxiety
• Gender and identity

It is a confusing time and young people can experience loneliness, pressure to conform, bullying and low self-esteem. Many young people will work through these situations however some may not be forthcoming and can struggle to cope alone. For parents it can be especially worrying not knowing what is going on with their child.

Certain behaviours can be a clue to these issues and therefore helpful to look out for:

• Fitting in at school or a change in performance in school
• Ongoing sadness, worry, fear or hopelessness
• Changes in appetite
• Pulling back from friends and social situations
• Behavioural changes including aggression or disobedience

Opening up conversations and giving them space to talk will provide the reassurance they need to be open. If you believe that they may need professional help, you can let them know that the help is available and that you will help research options and find someone suitable. By having someone in a supporting role, it will be less overwhelming to deal with and they can start on a path to feeling better.

A Range Of Experts Available To You

IAHIP Psychotherapists are trained to help children and adolescents with their mental health. You can search the IAHIP Psychotherapist Directory for these particular issues.

On the Directory page, simply type Children or Adolescents into the ‘Areas of Interest’ Box:

Additional Resources

For more information on Anxiety, you can access articles from our professional journal - Inside Out. Go to the top left of this website page and enter ‘Children’ or 'Adolescents' into the search box.