Professionals use these words all the time and sometimes don’t take the time to explain them to parents. You should always feel like you can ask them to clarify, but if you want a head start, these are some common words you might hear:

Mental Health

Mental health refers to our wellbeing and includes how we feel emotionally, psychologically and in our relationships with other people. Lots of things can influence our mental health: our genes, the chemicals in our brains, and life experiences (like experiencing violence or losing a loved one).

Mental health problems in kids are common—as many as 1 in 6 children have a mental health condition—and can often be treated successfully.

Anxiety

Anxiety refers to when kids react very quickly or strongly to situations that feel scary to them—like new situations or experiences—or when they have a hard time getting their anxious feelings under control. They might also find the world scarier or more dangerous than other kids.

Most kids feel scared or anxious sometimes, but they often learn to cope with fears and worries. Anxiety becomes a problem when it gets in the way of kids doing things, or when it feels out of proportion to the problems they are facing.

Depression

Depression often comes with feeling sad or down, but it is more than just being sad. Depression can make kids irritable and feel like nothing is worthwhile, or that things will never get better. It can get in the way of kids enjoying the things they usually like to do.

Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes it hard for kids to stop their spontaneous responses - so they might move or talk when they ‘shouldn’t’ or might have trouble focusing.

All kids occasionally get fidgety, act without thinking, or forget to do things. Kids with ADHD might have more trouble with these issues than other kids.

Trauma

When kids experience traumatic events, like witnessing violence or being abused, they can have strong emotions and physical reactions that last for a long time after the event. They may feel scared and helpless, have difficulty sleeping and eating, forming relationships, or many other issues.

Grief and Loss

Kids feel grief when they lose a loved one, just like adults. But because kids understand death differently, they also might react differently. Some kids might get quiet and withdrawn, while others might express their feelings by acting out.