Melissa M ecija
NAVIGAT ING MENTAL HEALTH
HOW TO GET HELP FOR YOUR CHILD Michelle Gummerus
experienced her son’s first severe mental health episode when he was 8 years old. “When he had a really bad hallucination, he would scream so loud, it was like somebody was trying to kill him,” Gummerus says. At first, doctors did not know what to do about Nate. Doctors told Gummerus, “I’ve never seen an adult like this, let alone a child.” At age 10 Nate was diagnosed with Schizophrenia. The mental illness is typically diagnosed in the late teens to early 30s, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It hasn’t been an easy journey. Now 16 years old, Nate has been in and out of the hospital more than 100 times. Although Nate’s case is rare, the search for answers is something
parents of children with mental health diagnoses can relate to. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) characterizes mental disorders as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave or handle emotions. The CDC says the most common mental health diagnoses in children include ADHD, behavior problems, Anxiety and Depression. One in six children between the ages of 2 and 8 have a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. Among young children, the CDC shows that boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with a mental or behavioral disorder. Gummerus had to find support immediately due to the severity of her son’s mental health issues. She says knowing who to call and how to get
20 • SNRFSD.org • SanDiegofamily.com • flourishing families 2019
help is critical. “The most important thing is finding a doctor who will diagnose and put [your child] on the right medication, and actually be there for you,” Gummerus says. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping on top of medication because needs can change as children grow older. If you have a child who has difficulty communicating, parent Emily Dolton suggests starting with your pediatrician. Be proactive. “Trust your instincts. If you suspect there’s something wrong, there are different avenues [where] you can go,” Dolton says. She wants people to understand that mental health is the same as physical health, so a child’s primary doctor can recommend a specialist. However, Dolton advises, just talking about a child’s mental health isn’t
