Talk to a doctor or mental health professional
Seek help from your child’s pediatrician or family doctor or ask for a referral to a mental health professional. The goal is to learn more about what could be helpful for your child. This could be talk therapy, or, in some cases, medication. Check out the Find Help page for therapists in your area.
Find HelpLearn more about their symptoms or diagnosis
Use any of these resources to learn more about you child’s diagnosis.
Listen to your child and give them support.
Mental health concerns can make someone feel alone. Let your child know you are there to listen and help. Your child might need your help at school or with learning new strategies for handling situations and relationships.
Be Patient.
Sometimes progress takes time. Mental health support is designed to help people learn new skills and behaviors. As with learning anything new, this takes time and practice. Letting your child know that you’re there to support them—and that learning anything new takes time—is important for your child.
Remember to take care of yourself too.
If your child is dealing with mental health concerns, it’s important to take care of your own mental health, too. This way, you can be there for your child and show them a good example.