Just like other times when your child isn’t feeling well, a professional might recommend a treatment to help them feel better. Here are some common ones.
Therapy
Therapy is about talking about feelings and exploring the emotions beneath behaviors. It can be done many ways, including with your child, on their own, in groups with other kids, or with the whole family.
Pro: Therapy can help many kids, and has very few side effects.
Con: In some cases, therapy can take longer to help than some medications, and therapy alone may not work for all mental health problems.
Medication
Medication options are out there for the treatment of mental health issues like depression, anxiety and ADHD. It is best used in combination with therapy.
Pro: Medication might help to treat some symptoms of mental health issues in kids.
Con: Every medication comes with risks and side effects, and they might not work for every kid.
Peer Support
Peers can provide support and share what they have been through. Both parents and kids can get a lot from peer groups.
Pro: Connecting with others who have had similar experiences can be really helpful because it helps us understand that we are not alone.
Con: Some peer support programs use group sessions or home visits, which might not work for every parent. It’s important to find a program that works for you and a professional that you feel comfortable with.
Intensive Home and Community-Based Services
Intensive home and community-based services can assist your family with many needs, including help with housing, family therapy, education and coordinating your child’s treatment.
Pro: Many community services can be provided in your home and at times that are convenient for you. Some have a focus on specific cultures, like Black or Latinx families, and can help families with challenges beyond their child’s behavior or feelings.
Con: Some community services require more time and energy from families—but the returns can be big. Ask how they approach working with families to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Alternative & Complementary Medicine
Treatments outside of mainstream, Western medicine, like dietary supplements or acupuncture, are commonly used by many people.
Pro: If these treatments make someone feel good, they can encourage positive thinking, which can help improve mental health challenges.
Con: Many of these treatments have not been studied well by scientists, so we don’t know if they work, or what the risks might be—especially for kids. It’s a good idea to check with a professional about these treatments.
Tools at Home
Kids and parents can try new behaviors and tools at home, like meditation or exercise. Check out some of our tools here.
Pro: Trying new approaches can have a big effect on your entire family, not only your child that you are concerned about. Reducing everyone’s stress and improving communication will have benefits for the whole family.
Con: These tools require you to learn new skills and to practice them consistently to get good at them - just like anything new that you try! This can mean more work when you are already busy, but they can also reduce fights and stress in the long run.