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Event creates awareness of children's mental health

Brunswick News (GA) - 5/29/2015

May 29--KINGSLAND -- Mental health issues are often difficult to diagnose, especially among children.

Health providers believe some behavior issues with a child may actually be serious enough to require medical treatment. The challenge is to determine when a child is misbehaving or has a mental health problem.

Health providers with expertise in providing mental health care gathered Thursday in Kingsland to spread the word about services available to help children.

The event featured booths, first responders and mental health providers.

There were plenty of games and other activities for children at the event, held at Howard Peeples Park.

Alyssa Thaxton, director of the Gateway Behavioral Services office in Kingsland, said many of the referrals come from school counselors. Parents sometimes struggle when their child is diagnosed with a mental health problem.

Nina Kennedy, clinical director of Gateway Behavioral Services, said the reaction by parents depends on their understanding of mental health issues and what their children face during treatment.

"It doesn't mean they can't function," Kennedy said. "They just need additional support."

Many of the children needing help have behavioral issues or suffer from depression. Children are more difficult to diagnose because they don't have a comprehensive history and they are sometimes unable to explain their problems.

While some children with severe issues are diagnosed early, most children are not tested for mental health issues until after they are four or five years old. Parental involvement is important, she said.

Parents suspecting a child may have a mental health issue should look for behavior that is not typical.

"I would become curious about what is happening in the school, in the neighborhood and when they're just out and about," Kennedy said. "Parents need to be involved daily in a child's life."

Reporter Gordon Jackson writes about Camden County and other local topics. Contact him at [email protected], on Facebook or at 464-7655.

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