Mental Health

Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, learning healthy social skills, and how to cope when there are problems or stress. All children experience changes in their behavior and mood, such as anger and sadness, as they grow. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that mental health disorders are described as serious changes in the way children and youth typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions.

A mental health disorder, also known as emotional or behavioral health disorder, is a medical condition that disrupts a child’s coping, thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental health concerns should be talked about, and a mental health diagnosis needs to be treated and followed just as one would do for a seizure disorder or other physical health condition.

Mental health disorders are much harder to recognize than other health concerns. Parents find themselves trying to figure out what is “normal” and what isn’t in their child’s behavior. Parents then have to figure out what to do and where to go first.

This section of the Medical Home Portal has information to help you learn more about mental health disorders, the various therapies, providers, services, and the resources that can be useful.