Labels in child and adolescent mental health presentations - A Christmas stocking stuffer

 Here's another stocking stuffer.  In the same way as last time, it's just a mini-FOAMed post.

So next time you see a child or young person with a mental health presentation, I would suggest the following:

• Don't think of behaviour as behavioral.  Assume it is a symptom of something more complex.
• Don't feel pressured to give a label.  Many young people don't ever get a formal diagnosis.
• See each contact as an opportunity to discover more about what is going on and why.  While this may not always be something massive, sometimes it takes a lot of feeling safe for a young person to disclose something.  The bigger the thing is to them, the more time and space it may take.

Mental health problems in young people are complex and that can be daunting for us as front line clinicians.  If you ever feel that you are not finding it easy, you are not alone.

Edward Snelson
@sailordoctor