Does my child…   1. Often seem sad, tired, restless, or out of sorts?   2. Spend a lot of time alone?   3. Have low self-esteem? 4. Have trouble getting along with family, friends, and peers? 5. Have frequent outbursts of shouting, complaining, or crying? 6. Have trouble performing or behaving in school? 7. Show sudden changes in eating patterns? 8. Sleep too much or not enough? 9. Have trouble paying attention or concentrating on tasks like homework?

10. Seem to have lost interest in hobbies like music or sports?

11. Show signs of using drugs and/or alcohol?

12. Talk about death or suicide?

If you answered yes to 4 or more of these questions, and these behaviors last longer than 2 weeks, you should seek professional help for your child.  

Suggested Resources:   For more information, contact: SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center 800-789-2647 http://www.mentalhealth.org/default.asp American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 3615 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016-3007 202-966-7300 or 800-333-7636 http://www.aacap.org/ Anxiety Disorders Association of America 11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20852 301-231-9350 http://www.mentalhealth.org/_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=145 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) (formerly the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association) 730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501 Chicago, IL 60610-3526 312-642-0049 or 800-826-3632 http://www.mentalhealth.org/_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=182 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill 200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1015 Arlington, VA 22203-3754 703-524-7600 or 800-950-6264 http://www.mentalhealth.org/_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=1896 National Institute of Mental Health 6001 Executive Boulevard Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 301-443-4513 or 800-421-4211 http://www.mentalhealth.org/_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=24 National Mental Health Association 2001 N. Beauregard Street - 12th Floor Alexandria, VA 22311 703-684-7722 or 800-969-6642 http://www.mentalhealth.org/_scripts/redirect.asp?ID=4833 These are suggested resources. It is not meant to be a complete list.

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ARTICLE PUBLISHED APRIL 7, 2003