The ABCs of Children’s Mental Health

May is Children’s Mental Health Month which is a great time to talk about where parents can find more information about the mental health conditions their adolescents may be struggling with. While there is no substitute for the expertise and information provided by a qualified mental health practitioner, this version of the ABCs can help parents learn more about the mental health conditions commonly seen in teenagers so they have the information they need in order to know when it is time to seek help, what questions to ask, and how to ensure their child or teenager gets the mental health support and services they need.

ADHD

• What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD)? From the National Institute of Mental Health
• ADHD Overview from the Centers for Disease Control
• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
• ADDitude Magazine archive

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Parent’s Guide from the National Institute of Mental Health
• Children and Teens with Bipolar Disorder from WebMD.com
• Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology
• Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder from the National Alliance on Mental Illness

Bullying

• StopBullying.gov from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Bully-Proofing Your Kids from CNN
• How Parents, Teachers, and Kids Can Take Action to Prevent Bullying from the American Psychological Association
• Bullying: What Parents Can Do from the National Crime Prevention Council

Cutting and Self Harm

• Understanding Teen Cutting and Self Injury from Parenting.org
• Self Injury and Cutting from the Mayo Clinic
• Self Injury in Adolescents from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology
• A Silent Cry for Help: Understanding Self Harm from Psychology Today

Depression

• Teen Depression: A Guide for Parents from HelpGuide.com
• Depression in Teens from Mental Health America
• Teenage Depression: Prevention Begins with Parental Support from the Mayo Clinic
• Helping Your Teen with Depression from Medline Plus which is provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health

Eating Disorders

• Eating Disorders: Tips to Protect Your Teen from the Mayo Clinic
• What are Eating Disorders? From the National Institute of Mental Health
• National Eating Disorders Association website
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAND) website

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder

• What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder from the National Institute of Mental Health
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder from Teen Mental Health
• Panic Disorder in Children and Adolescents from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology
• Panic Disorder from Teen Mental Health

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology
• OCD in Children and Teens from the International OCD Foundation
• Child and Adolescent OCD from the National Alliance on Mental Illness
• OCD in Teens from Beyond OCD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• PTSD in Children and Teens from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• PTSD isn’t Just a War Wound, Teens Suffer Too from National Public Radio
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Teens from the U.S. Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health as published in the journal World Psychiatry

Suicide Prevention

• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide website
• Preventing Youth Suicide – Tips for Parents and Educators from the National Association of School Psychologists
• Teen Suicide is Preventable from the American Psychological Association
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Related Articles:

• Eating Disorder Resources (doorwaysarizona.com)
• 4 Things Parents Can Do to Support Their Teen with ADHD (doorwaysarizona.com)
• How Can I Help My Self-Harming Teenager? (doorwaysarizona.com)