By Megan Aros-O’Malley, PhD, pediatric psychologist

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Unfortunately, children in the United States are currently facing a mental health crisis. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in five children has a mental or behavioral health condition such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder or disruptive behavior disorder. However, only about 20% of these children received care from a mental health provider.

Parents are often the first to recognize that their child is struggling emotionally and/or behaviorally. A few signs that a mental health difficulty could be arising include (but are not limited to):

• Persistent worries or anxiety
• Persistent behavioral acting out, aggression or disobedience
• Hyperactivity or constant movement beyond regular playing
• Difficulty paying attention
• Marked decline in school performance
• Inability to cope with setbacks and problems
• Severe mood swings
• Threatening to kill or harm oneself and/or self-injury
• Strange thoughts, beliefs or unusual behaviors

Untreated mental health conditions can have many short- and long-term impacts on children’s development, social and behavioral functioning, and home and school life.

Fortunately, help exists. DMG includes pediatric psychologists and counselors available to meet the mental health needs of children of all ages. Our behavioral health providers collaborate with families to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that can include services such as consultation, psychotherapy and/or psychological testing. Furthermore, DMG behavioral health providers will partner with your child’s pediatrician/primary care provider and other specialists, as needed, to provide your child comprehensive care.