Caring for the Mental Health of Maryland's Children
Children of all ages, even as young infants, can experience mental health problems. It’s easy to know when your child needs help with a fever or a broken bone, but mental health problems can be harder to identify. The tricky part of parenting is knowing the kinds of behaviors and moods that are usual for the stage of development your child is in—and when your child has gone beyond the norm and needs help.
At any given time, 1 in 5 children and adolescents may be experiencing a mental health problem. Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as violence, death, abuse, and neglect increase a child's risk for developing a mental health disorder. Without help, these problems can lead to school failure, substance use, and family trouble. It is important to remember that a child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. Yet, almost 2/3 of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need.
To learn more, please explore the resources below.
