How do you help your child stay happy, healthy, and hopeful?
Learn how emotional and
behavioral health
affects your child's ability to learn and succeed.Scroll down
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See mental health challenges through a young person's eyes.
Pick your storyline to learn more.
A recent study shows that depression is more common in females than males, and can start as early as age 11.
Transnational Psychiatry National (Survey of Drug Use and Health)
For weeks Maya has been worried about her big dance competition. Her anxiety has gotten so bad she just goes through the motions during practice. She doesn’t laugh or joke with her friends like she used to.
Her coach notices. “Maya,” she says
What's going
on with you?
A week before the competition, Maya stops coming to practice. Her coach calls her grandmother, who says Maya has been out sick with a “stomachache”, but her grandmother admits that she knows Maya is avoiding school and her friends.
Maya’s grandmother and her coach discuss what to do. They can’t force Maya to compete, but they want to know if Maya is just being a moody teenager or if something else is going on. Maya’s coach wonders if the death of Maya’s father 2 years ago could be affecting her.
Behavioral health issues aren’t always obvious to parents, caregivers, or other important adults in a young person’s life. Many of the assumptions that adults make about a young person’s behavior can be signs of a
Scroll down to learn more about Maya and some of the behavioral health challenges she is experiencing.
Anxiety is an emotional disorder associated with constant feelings of worry and tension. Anxiety can also result in physical changes like sweating, increased blood pressure, dizziness, trembling, and/or a rapid heartbeat.
More information about the differences among these types can be found here.
A young person with an
anxiety disorder
might avoid certain social situations.
Anxiety can also impact school performance during tests or other important assignments.
In 2015, 6.3 million teens in the United States reported having an anxiety disorder. Read more here.
Teens face many pressures, including:
Continue to learn how you can support a young person dealing with behavioral health challenges.
What can you do as a parent, caregiver, or mentor to support a young person?
Scroll down to see how Maya’s story ends.
After a long conversation, Maya’s grandmother and her coach come up with a plan of action. They both agree to talk to Maya but to let her lead the conversation and share how she’s feeling. Then together they can call the District’s Department of Behavioral Health’s Access Helpline, 1-888-7WE-HELP (1-888-793-4357).
Now that you’ve met Maya and heard her story, we hope you understand more about how behavioral health impacts young people.
As a parent, caregiver, teacher, or even a friend, you can help a young person dealing with mental health issues. Let the person know you are there to support him or her and share the great resources that are available in the District.
Continue on to learn what resources are available in the District.
To learn about the behavioral health services your child’s school offers, contact the school’s administrative office.
Thank you for keeping our youth happy, healthy, and hopeful.
Go to the websiteMental health issues can look different in males and females.
E.g, agitation and aggression are common in depressed teenage males but not necessarily in females.
NIH.gov
After school the first thing Marcus does is hop into bed to binge eat and watch Netflix. Marcus’ parents work long hours so they don’t notice, but his older brother, who’s been left to juggle school, work, chores and taking care of his other siblings, does notice.
He's just so lazy
Marcus’ brother tells his dad. One day Marcus’ older brother is packing up for school when he finds Marcus’ report card. Marcus has gone from an honor roll student to failing.
Marcus’s brother confronts him, and Marcus breaks down crying. His brother doesn’t know what to do. He thinks Marcus just isn’t trying anymore,
but could he be wrong?
Behavioral health issues aren’t always obvious to parents, caregivers, or other important adults in a young person’s life. Many of the assumptions that adults make about a young person’s behavior can be signs of a
Scroll down learn more about Marcus and some of the behavioral health challenges he is experiencing and learn more about suicide and depression.
A young person with depression might struggle with feelings of sadness and might no longer enjoy activities he or she once enjoyed.
Symptoms of depression usually must persist for at least 2 weeks to receive a diagnosis.
Common symptoms of depression include:
It can be hard to know if a young person is depressed. Puberty often brings about strong emotions. That is why it’s important to know the behavioral health resources in your community or school.
In 2015, 3 million teenagers reported experiencing at least one depressive episode in the past year. Unfortunately, the suicide rate is on the rise among youth.
Read more here
Continue to learn how you can support a young person dealing with behavioral health challenges.
What can you do as a parent, caregiver, or mentor to support a young person?
Scroll down to see how Marcus' story ends.
Marcus finally opens up to his brother and shares that he’s thinking about suicide. Unsure of what to do, Marcus calls his mother, who rushes home. She sits down with Marcus and tells him,“We need to get you help.”
Through ChAMPS, Marcus is admitted to a hospital for screening and treatment.
Continue on to learn what resources are available in the District.
To learn about the behavioral health services your child’s school offers, contact the school’s administrative office.
Thank you for keeping our youth happy, healthy, and hopeful.
Go to the websiteA recent study shows that depression is more common in females than males, and can start as early as age 11.
Transnational Psychiatry National (Survey of Drug Use and Health)
It’s homecoming season, and Janay’s family always goes to the Woodson High School homecoming game. Janay is
In the weeks leading up to the game she can barely sleep. She’s up late at night on social media, watching TV, dancing, and hopping in her mom’s bed to talk to her. Her mom is constantly telling her to calm down.
The day of the game, Janay shuts herself in her room. When her mom knocks on her door to drive her to the game she says,
I'm tired mom, leave me alone.
Janay’s mom is confused. Janay’s emotions have been all over the place recently. She’s very different from the quiet, confident girl her mother knew. “I hope she hasn’t gotten into something dangerous with her friends,” Janay’s mom thinks.
Behavioral health issues aren’t always obvious to parents, caregivers, or other important adults in a young person’s life. Many of the assumptions that adults make about a young person’s behavior can be signs of a
Scroll down to learn more about Janay and some of the behavioral health challenges she is experiencing.
Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness, causes changes in mood, energy, and activity levels.
There are four common types of bipolar disorder:
More information about the differences among these types can be found here.
It is estimated that 2.9% of young people have bipolar disorder.
It is common for someone with bipolar disorder to swing between manic episodes and depressive episodes or to have “mixed” episodes, in which the person experiences depression and mania at the same time. Bipolar episodes are often accompanied by periods where the mood is normal or euthymic.
The length of an episode and the way in which an episode starts depends on many factors. The first step in detecting bipolar disorder is speaking to a mental health professional.
Young people with a family history of bipolar disorder are more likely to develop the disorder. Those with bipolar disorder might sometimes have other behavioral health challenges like substance abuse, ADHD, or anxiety.
Like many behavioral health issues, there can be stigma attached to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Read more here.
Scroll down to see how Janay’s story ends.
After some time, Janay’s mom notices that Janay’s mood swings are more dramatic and her sleeping patterns are all over the place. After doing some research online, she speaks with Janay more about how she is feeling and why she is feeling that way. Together, Janay and her mother agree that Janay should speak to her school’s health clinician about how she is feeling.
Now that you’ve met Janay and heard her story, we hope you understand more about how behavioral health impacts young people.
As a parent, caregiver, teacher, or even a friend, you can help a young person dealing with mental health issues. Let the person know you are there to support him or her and share the great resources that are available in the District.
Continue on to learn what resources are available in the District.
To learn about the behavioral health services your child’s school offers, contact the school’s administrative office.
Thank you for keeping our youth happy, healthy, and hopeful.
Go to the websiteMental health issues can look different in males and females.
E.g, agitation and aggression are common in depressed teenage males but not necessarily in females.
NIH.gov
Juan is in detention for the third week in a row. His chemistry teacher is helping him focus and be less disruptive in class, but some of Juan’s other teachers just lose their patience and send him to detention.
Even today in detention,
His English teacher is leading detention. After Juan interrupts detention with an outburst for the third time in an hour, she sends him to a room next door to spend his detention time alone. She doesn’t understand how a student can be so disruptive.
Behavioral health issues aren’t always obvious to parents, caregivers, or other important adults in a young person’s life. Many of the assumptions that adults make about a young person’s behavior can be signs of a
Scroll down learn more about Juan and some of the behavioral health challenges he is experiencing.
ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a brain disorder characterized by hyperactivity and inattention.
The latest studies on young people and ADHD show that between 5% and 11% of young people have ADHD.
The symptoms of inattention and hyperactive-impulsivity differ.
ADHD can make it hard for a young person to make and keep friends. Sometimes young people with ADHD are left out of social events or are bullied.
In school, young people with ADHD experience high rates of expulsion, drop out more frequently, and are less likely to complete college than those without ADHD. In the long term ADHD can contribute to lower earning potential, more interactions with law enforcement, and substance abuse disorders.
Read more here.
Scroll down to see how Juan's story ends.
The same day that Juan acts out during detention, his English teacher brings it up to Juan’s chemistry teacher. They agree that a clinician needs to be involved. When they tell Juan that they may know of a way to help him focus, Juan talks to his parents and agrees to go to the school’s behavioral health clinician and get screened for ADHD.
Continue on to learn what resources are available in the District.
To learn about the behavioral health services your child’s school offers, contact the school’s administrative office.
Thank you for keeping our youth happy, healthy, and hopeful.
Go to the website