When children have emotional or behavioural problems, the earlier they get treatment, the easier it is to help them. When you’re concerned about a child’s mental health, you might be told by family members, friends and even your paediatrician to relax and wait – they’ll overcome it when they grow up. Sometimes this is a good advice but sometimes it’s not.

There are times when it’s clearly not a good idea to wait to get your child help for mental health issues. When the parents find the following changes in the child they must decide that it’s the right time to seek professional help:

• child shows eating disorder; either over eat or does not eat anything
• if a mental illness runs in the family; child is likely to copy
• if you see your child hurting himself, says he is fed of life and would like to end it
• anger, temper tantrums
• lack of interest in studies
• exam fear and test anxieties
• mobile, internet, TV addictions
• taking money from home or stealing things from elsewhere
• sibling rivalry
• mingling problem and extremely shy nature
• always wants to be alone
• obsessive thoughts and Obsessive compulsive behaviour

At LEAP we provide life changing Counselling and Psychotherapy experience which can make permanent changes in the child setting them free from their distressing behaviours