Pediatricians are in an excellent position to help you promote good mental health for your child, to identify mental health challenges, and to connect your child to treatment when it’s necessary. But, parents play a key role in detecting problems and alerting pediatricians to the social, emotional and behavioral issues that their child might be experiencing.

Share Your Concerns

Because you know your child better than anyone, pediatricians depend on you to tell them about anything you think might be relevant to your child's physical, social and emotional well-being.

Sometimes parents can be hesitant to talk to a doctor about their concerns for their child’s social and emotional health. They might be embarrassed by a problem their child is having or afraid of what the doctor will think. They might be intimidated by a provider’s medical credentials or worry about wasting the doctor’s time. Others might think that their child’s behavior and social development don't seem to relate to their health care. But, nothing could be further from the truth because our mental health is a vital part of your child’s overall health and well-being.

If you have concerns, make an appointment to talk to your child’s doctor.

Be Prepared

Your child's doctor relies on you to share your perceptions, observations or concerns about how your child is learning, developing and behaving. The more information you provide, the better able the doctor will be to assess your child's mental health.

Be as prepared as possible with details during your doctor visits. Write down your questions and concerns before the appointment so you'll remember everything you want to bring up. When the doctor asks how your child is doing, be ready to share information about their mental health as well as their physical health. Be as specific as possible.

What to Expect at the Doctor's Office

Through a simple evaluation/screening process, a pediatrician should be able to diagnose whether your child is exhibiting signs of mental illness or typical childhood reactions. You might need a separate appointment for the evaluation, since it might not be possible during a routine check-up or sick visit.

Pediatricians can treat a range of behavioral health issues, but in many cases will want to refer children who might be experiencing mental health problems to a specialist.

Ask Your Doctor for Information

Doctors can be a great information resource for parents. During pediatrician visits, ask them questions about mental health and what to expect in your child’s development, and ask for tips on how to promote good mental health.