Many young people are struggling with how they feel. You might be experiencing problems at school, issues with your parents or generally not feeling like yourself. Counselling and other advice services can help them talk things through, support them without making them feel judged.

Try talking to them through asking questions, and show your support. Even if they’re not ready to talk, ensure they know you’re there for them. If you’re worried about your child and things seem to be affecting their health, it may be time to consider further help

When to take action

When children have emotional or behavioural problems, the earlier they get treatment, the easier it is to help them. Young people hate being talked down to. As a young person’s counsellor, you have to be open and honest and give your clients time to open up.

• When kids are struggling with their mental health, problems tend to arise in more than one place. You might see behavioural changes at home, school, on the playing field, and even with friends.

• More often than not, regressed behaviour is the first sign of a child in emotional help. Bedwetting (when your child is night trained), clingy behaviour, separation issues (including school refusal) and frequent (intense) meltdowns should all be considered calls for help.

• The longer a child lives with an eating disorder, the harder it is to recover. Getting treatment as quickly as possible can save her life.

• If mental illness runs in your family, be aware of the increased possibility that your child will begin to develop a disorder. In this case, it’s important to act promptly.

• You also want to take note of frequent nightmares, difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep. Changes in behaviour that cause you to think twice usually mean something.

Conclusion

Monitoring your child’s behaviour can help you collect valuable information. If your child’s behaviour is causing her chronic trouble in school or is seriously disrupting your family life, it’s important to get help.

Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor or a qualified therapist if your child seems to be having a problem. Quick attention can help him better overcome the issues he’s coping with, and lead a happier life.

At Anchor Relationship Network, one of our main focus is child and adolescence counselling. Get in touch with us on +254707633433, +254734 713650, email us on info@anchor.co.ke or visit our website for more details.