You should seek emergency services if your child is at imminent risk
of hurting themselves or others, unable to perform basic activities of
daily living, or if you identify that there is a crisis and you need
assistance.
If your child is in an immediate life threatening circumstance (e.g is
bleeding from a wound, has taken an overdose), call 911.
If you have a mental health crisis that is serious but not life
threatening, call 269-373-6000/888-373-6200.
Determining if your child has a mental health condition that needs
treatment is complex as it is not always a "visible" disability. The
two best cues are if you feel something is wrong and that your child
needs help or if your child asks for help. Parents are the expert in how
their child is doing and if they need help. If you feel something is
wrong, seek help until your questions are answered.
Common signs that a child may need help include if he/she:
- has talked about suicide, threatened suicide, or hurt themselves
(causing cuts or bruising)
- is withdrawn and does not have friends or cannot maintain friendships
- has frequent behavioral difficulties in school such as suspensions or
fighting
- has a change in school performance (trouble thinking, trouble paying
attention, lower grades...)
- is aggressive and causes injury to others or destroys property
- seems sad most of the time
- sets fires
- runs away from home or school
- uses alcohol or drugs
- has troubled or disturbing thoughts
- has difficulty sleeping, sleeps too much, or has frequent nightmares
- has a change in appetite
- has a significant and unplanned change in weight which can be either
weight loss or weight gain
- frequently lies and/or steals
- has mood swings that are disruptive.
- has obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors,
- hurts or kills animals,
- has dangerous or self-destructive behaviors
- Has trouble paying attention, anxiety, or frequent worries.
If you are concerned that your child may have an emotional problem, you
should seek an evaluation by a mental health professional specifically
trained to work with children by calling 269-373-6000/888-373-6200
