| What should you do if your child or adolescent is | | | | can provide. |
| exhibiting signs of an emotional or behavioral problem | | | | If your child does not have a regular physician, ask |
| or if you fear that your child might have a mental | | | | your child's school counselor or your clergyperson for |
| illness? First, and most importantly, trust your instincts. | | | | a referral to a professional with expertise in |
| You know your child best. Parents are usually the first | | | | adolescent mental health. One thing to be aware of |
| ones to notice that their child has a problem-you know | | | | here: While clergy can be helpful in crises of a spiritual |
| his or her usual mood and reactions to situations and | | | | nature, mental health problems require specialized |
| you know his or her level of functioning. If something | | | | assistance. Most clergy have limited exposure to, or |
| seems not quite as it should, you should check it out. | | | | education in, what is required to adequately and |
| If and when you mention your concerns to friends or | | | | properly address mental health problems, and I |
| relatives, you'll find that everyone offers advice. They | | | | recommend that you contact a mental health |
| mean well, but if you want an expert opinion, you'll | | | | professional. Your church or synagogue may be able |
| need to seek out an expert. And while you can gain | | | | to put you in touch with a pastoral counseling program |
| much from watching television therapists, in the case | | | | if a spiritual component is important to you, and these |
| of or child, you really need to seek guidance from | | | | centers are usually staffed by mental health |
| someone face-to-face. In the same room-not | | | | professionals. |
| thousands of miles away in a TV studio. | | | | The division of adolescent psychiatry or department of |
| If you need help right away and feel your child is in a | | | | psychology in any medical school or university may |
| crisis situation, you must go to the closest emergency | | | | provide a referral to a competent professional. Medical |
| room or mental health clinic. If you believe your child | | | | and psychiatric societies can also tell you where |
| poses an immediate danger to himself or to anyone | | | | psychiatrists went to medical school, took residency |
| else, and you think-even remotely-that you might have | | | | training, and whether they are certified by the |
| trouble transporting him to the emergency room | | | | American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Board |
| yourself, immediately dial 911. Do not concern yourself | | | | certification is desirable. |
| with what the neighbors might think. This is an | | | | Call or visit your community mental health center, |
| emergency and must be handled that way. | | | | mental health association, or a support group such as |
| If your child is having difficulties that do not pose an | | | | the local chapter of the Federation of Families for |
| immediate crisis and you feel sure that waiting until an | | | | Children's Mental Health (FFCMH) or the National |
| outpatient appointment date is safe, your first contact | | | | Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). They may have a list |
| might be your child's pediatrician or family | | | | of mental health professionals in your area who are |
| physician-your child's primary care physician (PCP). Call | | | | accepting new patients. |
| the doctor's office and tell the receptionist that your | | | | Your employer may offer an Employee Assistance |
| child needs to be seen as soon as possible. When the | | | | Program (EAP) that may be able to steer you in the |
| appointment time is set, make sure that you keep the | | | | right direction. An EAP is a benefit from your employer, |
| appointment. If your child's other parent is available, he | | | | and many provide assistance to employees and their |
| or she should accompany you. | | | | families for substance abuse, stress-related illnesses, |
| You may find that your child's PCP wants to be the | | | | depression, and other mental health issues. Visits are |
| sole care provider for your child. While your PCP can | | | | generally free, but there are usually a limited number of |
| certainly prescribe medication for your child-such as | | | | visits allowed. Although engaged by your employer, the |
| antidepressants or ADHD medications-be aware that | | | | EAP is bound by confidentially laws to keep your |
| PCPs are not trained in psychiatry or psychology and | | | | business private and your employer will not be notified |
| you will have to go elsewhere for the talk-therapy | | | | that you have sought help from the EAP nor given |
| component of your child's treatment. Sometimes a | | | | information about issues discussed in your sessions. |
| PCP may provide brief counseling, but, as you know, | | | | You most likely have an idea by now where you'll look |
| your PCP's time is limited and he or she does not have | | | | for help. Remember: you must be your child's strongest |
| the "fifty-minute hour" that mental health professionals | | | | advocate. |