With all the focus on mental health in the news, you may have wondered how to know if your child is mentally ill. Until you receive confirmation from a mental health professional, try not to draw any conclusions. This article does not provide criteria for diagnosis. Instead, it covers potential red flags that may warrant further investigation.
1. You Sense Something Is Wrong
Dr. Virginia Boga, a clinical psychologist in New York, tells Parentology, “The signs of mental illness can be different depending on the diagnosis, but one common theme is that parents feel something is wrong.”
2. Children Behave Differently Than Peers
Boga further explains that one of the top reasons that parents suspect something is amiss is when the child may not behave like other children his or her age. There is nothing wrong with being different, but parents should take note of how these differences continue to unfold.