Children’s mental health is an important part of their overall well-being. To help guide parents, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers a collection of interviews with pediatricians about child behavior, emotions and other mental health topics. Listen to Sound Advice on Mental Health here.
“Studies show that about 1 in 5 children has a mental health problem,” said Robert W. Block, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP. “We want parents to have the knowledge and tools they need to recognize when their child may be struggling so they can get help, but also to foster their child’s emotional and social well-being.”
At the Sound Advice on Mental Health site, parents can listen first-hand as pediatricians answer common questions:
- How do you instill good habits in your children?
- What’s the best way to praise your child?
- Is it normal for teenagers to be moody?
- How can parents nurture their young child’s emotional development?
- How is ADHD diagnosed in preschool-age children?
- How can parents encourage open communication with their teenager?
“It’s important for parents to remember always that they’re their children’s most important teachers, and that’s true from infancy all the way through adolescence,” said John Duby, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Mental Health Leadership Workgroup and one of the featured experts on Sound Advice. “Parents can have a tremendous positive impact in helping their children learn how to manage stress, develop healthy relationships and form positive emotional habits.”
A video by Jane M. Foy, MD, FAAP, lists ways parents can foster positive mental health in their children. Interviews also include conversations with adolescent medicine specialists Karen Soren, MD, FAAP, and Garry Sigman, MD, FAAP, on adolescent mental health and depression, and with pediatrician and child psychiatrist Mary Margaret Gleason, MD, FAAP, on infant and toddler emotional development. Marian Earls, MD, FAAP, discusses the impact of postpartum depression on children and families. Michael Reiff, MD, FAAP, explains the new AAP guidelines on diagnosing and managing ADHD in children and adolescents. In a video, developmental-behavioral pediatrician David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP, gives advice on helping children cope with traumatic events. Transcripts of the interviews are available on the site.
