Mental health problems are uncommon in early childhood, but they do occur in rare cases (e.g., attachment disorders, behavioural disorders, developmental disorders, anxiety disorders, depression). “Professionals prefer to wait before making a diagnosis,” says Geneviève Beaulieu-Pelletier, a psychologist. “In early childhood, they’re mainly assessing for developmental issues. If they notice something, they’ll look into what steps can be taken to improve the situation and prevent it from turning into a mental health disorder.”
Young children dealing with mental health struggles may display certain symptoms. For example, they may keep to themself, lose interest in playtime, become increasingly irritable or aggressive, demonstrate a loss of appetite, or have trouble sleeping.
If you notice these symptoms in your child and you are concerned or they persist over time, it’s best to consult a health care professional such as a psychologist, doctor, nurse, or social worker. If your child tends to trigger strong reactions from you (e.g., they make you angry on a regular basis), you can also ask for help to improve your relationship.
You can’t take care of your child if you don’t also take care of yourself. If you are struggling, “it’s essential to ask for help and address your own mental health so that it doesn’t affect your relationship with your child,” says psychologist Nicolas Berthelot.
If you have a mental illness, your child is at greater risk of developing a mental health problem, but it isn’t guaranteed. “For instance, studies have shown that when parents with depression successfully manage their condition and learn how to be kind and loving with their child, the child develops few to no depressive symptoms,” says George Tarabulsy.
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Source: Naître et grandir magazine, March–April 2025 |
Photos (in order): GettyImages/PeopleImages, Iuliia Zavalishina, O2O Creative, klebercordeiro, VIJ, FilippoBacci, and FatCamera
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