Strategies to proactively boost mental health in young children

Who am I?

While there is no simple answer to this question, the journey of self-discovery begins at a very early age, and genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors all play a vital role in shaping the people we become. This journey is especially transformative for children under the age of 12.

“Children are incredibly reliant on the people in their lives to help them grow, give them guidance, listen to them and help them figure out who they are and what they want to do”, says Dr. Krista Lemke, Medical Director of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH).

“Adults that play a role in a child's life, be it a parent, teacher, coach or family doctor – have both the responsibility and the privilege of being part of that process.”

While it may be easy to recognize when a child shows physical symptoms of the flu or fever, it's less obvious when there are underlying behaviours or experiences that may contribute to mental health vulnerabilities.

It's estimated that 10-20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental health issue. Dr. Lemke contends that it's important to identify potential signs of vulnerability at a younger age, in an effort to intervene early and to build resilience.

She focuses on three personality and behavioural profiles commonly observed in children and offers suggestions on how caregivers might adapt their approach to boost their child's mental health:

1. The active child

• Very active, spontaneous, impulsive
• Trouble sitting still for long periods, easily distracted
• May have difficulty with transitions and managing frustration

Introduce clear and consistent structure so the child learns to understand and anticipate routine. Experiment with visuals including charts, calendars and pictures to identify what comes next, as children who are easily distracted may not respond as well to verbal cues. In a learning setting, institute more frequent breaks and incorporate physical activity to expel energy. Highly active children also do well with positive incentives, for example pairing a challenging task with a fun activity as a reward; focus on enhancing motivation versus enforcing discipline for not completing the task.

2. The naturally inhibited child

• Shy and slow to warm up to new situations and people
• Transitions often associated with anxiety
• Difficulty managing new challenges; school settings can feel overwhelming

Naturally inhibited children often require more encouragement and support to face new situations and try new activities; parents can empower their children by introducing new situations in a safe and gradual manner to prevent undue stress and anxiety. However, it's just as important not to enable avoidance or accommodation; it's vital that the child learns the necessary coping skills at a young age to build resilience and manage change later in life.

3. The sensitive child

• Experiences strong emotions and has trouble regulating them
• Demonstrates less resilience in the face of stress
• Often very creative, intuitive, empathic and thoughtful

When you have a child who is highly sensitive and experiences strong emotions, it's important to recognize that as a parent, your input and actions can have a profound impact in both positive and negative ways. Sensitive children can often withdraw, become overwhelmed or feel criticized if they are triggered or threatened by a situation or interaction. They may react strongly, with tears or ‘meltdowns.' Being attuned to what your child is experiencing and helping them to understand and manage their emotions is crucial.

While many of the above behaviours and personality traits are commonly observed in children under the age of 12, they may be more prominent, persistent and troubling in some. If this is the case, there are many resources and services in the community to support parents, families and children in East Toronto, including:

• Michael Garron Hospital's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program
  • Outpatient Services: Psychiatric Consultation, Child and Adolescent Anxiety Clinic, Building Bridges Day Program, Crisis and Urgent Care Service.

  • Inpatient Service: Intensive assessment, stabilization and treatment for children and adolescents up to the age of 18
     

• YouthCan IMPACT - Danforth (located at 1871 Danforth Avenue)

  • An integrated community care team that includes counsellors from East Metro Youth Services, care navigators from LOFT Community Services, psychiatric consultants from MGH, and others; available to children and youth up to age 29, as well as their parents and families, on a walk-in basis, four days per week.
     

• ‘What's up walk in' services at Youthlink, East Metro Youth Services and Skylark
   

• Community mental health treatment for children at Aisling Discoveries, the Child Development Institute and the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health

“The best kind of intervention involves all of the adults in a child's life working together to provide an integrated system of supports” says Dr. Lemke.

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