Dear Cassy: The sooner the better
Dear Cassy:
by Liz Schoeben
All parents know the benefits of early intervention when it comes to physical illness. However, many times we overlook this same strategy in treating anxiety, depression or poor social skills. We miss a huge opportunity to treat the symptoms early on. This missed opportunity leads to an increase in teen anxiety and depression and can even lead to suicide, the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 24.
Stigma around mental health is one of the most significant barriers to early intervention. If I seek help for my child will they be labeled? Is there something wrong with me as a parent that my child needs mental health support? It can also be hard to find the right support for children. Good therapists usually have a full practice, not to mention trying to navigate the insurance payments. Many mental health benefits are still not covered, which further feeds into the stigma of mental health.
According to Mental Health America (mentalhealthamerica.net), 50 percent of people who develop mental health disorders show symptoms by age 14. The time between prenatal development and early adulthood is crucial for the brain. The brain continues to develop into adolescence. During teen years, the brain is working on the elimination of unnecessary connections between neurons and strengthening important connections, known as the pruning process. Parents get their children pitching coaches, dancing coaches, SAT tutors and writing coaches for college essays. So why don’t we take the same stance with mental health?
Early intervention normalizes a child’s experience and feelings. When a young child experiences loss for the first time, they may not be able to vocalize these feelings. They have no perspective and may worry the intense emotional reactions are not normal or healthy. This is an excellent opportunity for the adults in their life to normalize the intense, confusing emotions they may be feeling.
Early intervention can provide children with a variety of ways to cope with these feelings. Through counseling we teach children to express how they are feeling by putting words to their emotions and connecting feelings to how they feel when sad, angry or scared. Healthy outlets include journaling, drawing and physical exercise.
In crisis: Text 741741 for free crisis support 24/7.
For more information go to SouthBayFamiliesConnected.org
Liz Schoeben is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In 2017, she founded CASSY SoCal (cassysocal.org), which partners with the Palos Verdes Unified School District to provide students with comprehensive mental health services.