Child guidance clinic

It estimated that nearly 1-2 in 10 children under the age of 13 experiences a mental, emotional or behavioural disorder that is severe enough to seriously affect their daily functioning at home, school or within the community. The good news is that early diagnosis and treatment lead to better outcomes for children later in life.

What mental health conditions affect children

• Anxiety Disorders
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Behaviour Disorders (including Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder (CD))
• Mood Disorders (including Depression, Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression))
• Substance Abuse
• Tourette Syndrome.

What are the warning signs of mental illness in children?

• Getting significantly lower marks in school
• Avoiding friends and family
• Having frequent outbursts of anger and rage
• Losing his or her appetite
• Having difficulty sleeping
• Rebelling against authority
• Drinking a lot and/or using drugs
• Not doing the things he or she used to enjoy
• Damaging other people's property
• Worrying constantly
• Experiencing frequent mood swings
• Not concerned with his or her appearance
• Obsessed with his or her weight
• Lacking energy or motivation
• Hitting or bullying other children
• Attempting to injure him or her self

But these characteristics and behaviors may be signs of an underlying mental health disorder if they are

• Intense;
• Persist over long periods of time;
• Inappropriate for the child's age; and
• Interfere with the child's life.