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Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health
Warning signs of mental illness in children and young people to look for include:
• Mood changes – severe mood swings or changes that last more than
two weeks
• Intense feelings – enough to interfere with daily life and activities
• Changes in behaviour – drastic changes including out of control or
dangerous behaviours
• Difficulty concentrating – the child finds it hard to focus or sit still
• Physical symptoms – such as headaches and stomach pains with no
obvious cause
• Unexplained weight loss – frequent vomiting and sudden loss of appetite
• Hitting or bullying other children
• Self-harm – attempts to cause themselves harm or injury which may
include suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts
• Involvement with substance misuse.
In every case, the key to recognition is looking for atypical or significant changes in
behaviours over longer than expected time periods.
Key Fact
Childhood mental health problems are common, damaging, costly
and persistent. They cause distress to children, young people and
their families and often cast a very long shadow over children’s lives.
Source: Missed opportunities: A review of recent evidence into
children and young people’s mental health: Centre for
Mental Health 2016
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