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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health

A range of behaviours that may indicate concerns about a
child’s or young person’s mental health

As you discovered in Unit 1, roughly 1 in 10 children and young people have a mental
health disorder, which highlights how important it is to be able to recognise the early
signs and symptoms and the behaviours associated with mental health disorders.

There are a number of signs that a child or young person may be developing, or have
already developed, a mental health condition. These include:

• Mood and behaviour changes

• Persistent anxiety

• Inability to cope with the usual daily problems and activities

• Suicidal thoughts
• Spending more time alone

• Difficulty concentrating and paying attention

• Persistent nightmares

• Intense fearful feelings for no apparent reason

• Unexplained weight loss – this may indicate an eating disorder
• Excessive complaints about physical symptoms such as headaches
and stomach aches

• Involvement with substance misuse

• Self-harming and injury

• Frequent bouts of anger and temper tantrums.

It is important to remember that some of these symptoms could be part of a normal
childhood behaviour pattern for the child or young person, or could be caused by other
physical ailments – therefore, it can be difficult for parents or carers to identify the
cause accurately. In addition, the child may not be able to explain or articulate their
feelings. Persistent, frequent and unusual symptoms are more accurate indicators
that a child is developing a mental health disorder.

The above list is not exhaustive, and some children may display other symptoms
specific to the condition they are experiencing.

For example, bullying can make a child feel lonely, afraid, anxious and reduce their
confidence levels, sometimes leading to depression and anxiety. Whatever form the
bullying takes, it can lead to problems that have serious negative consequences
for the child.

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