Peninsula Pediatrics

Category: Parenting Tips

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

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The suicidal rate among children and adolescents has increased in the past few years. School pressures, social media, upsetting news in the media, discrimination, and bullying (including cyberbullying) are some of the contributing factors for depression and anxiety among youth. We know many families have concerns about their child’s emotional well-being and we always recommend paying close attention to the signs of mental health conditions so that you can take the appropriate actions.

While all kids will experience their bad or moody days at times, long periods of sadness and withdrawal could be a sign of mental health struggles. There is usually a range of symptoms that indicate depression or anxiety, such as changes in sleep and eating patterns, loss of interest in activities your child used to enjoy, academic struggles, or signs of substance or alcohol abuse. Often, your child will show more than one sign that they’re dealing with mental health challenges. 

If you do notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to start a conversation with your child right away. You might feel hesitant to bring up the topic of suicide in fear that talking about it might lead to your child having suicidal thoughts. However, it actually lowers the risk and sends the message to your child that you are there for them, and that they have a loving and caring adult they can turn to. 

When you talk to your child about their mental health, avoid any judgmental or accusatory tone. You want to come from a place of empathy so that your child trusts you and feels comfortable opening up to you about their thoughts and feelings. The majority of kids who are suicidal will say something before making any attempt. It could be something along the lines of “I don’t care about life anymore, “I’m better off dead,” “I hate living,” or “I’m just a burden.” They may express feelings of hopelessness or being trapped. All of these should be taken seriously and never brushed off as teenage moodiness. 

Avoid telling your child to not feel a certain way or anything that might invalidate their feelings. Instead, show them understanding and compassion while helping them put things into perspective and offer ways to reframe their thoughts or beliefs. Let them know that you are there for them to help in any way and remind them that you love them even if you think they already know this. It’s reassuring to hear this in times of distress and can stop someone from trying to take away their life. 

Even after engaging in conversations with your child, it is beneficial to seek treatment if they’re struggling with depression or anxiety. There are different types of therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), as well as medications that can help. But it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider and mental health specialist before deciding on the appropriate treatment plan for your child. For more information on treatment options, check out this resource from Child Mind Institute. 

If you ever believe that your child is at immediate risk for suicide, take action to get them help right away. Call or text 988 for the Lifeline which provides 24/7 free and confidential support to anyone considering suicide. If there are any weapons, lethal tools, or substances that are easily accessible, remove them out of your child’s reach.  

Having a child who is suicidal or struggling with their mental health can feel frightening and worrisome. But remember, you and your child don’t have to go through this alone. We are here for you to provide the support, treatment, and resources your family needs. Call our office if you have any concerns.  

Tips for Back-to-School

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It’s back-to-school season and we got some tips and things to add to your checklist to ensure a healthy, safe, and productive year for your kids!

Firstly, we suggest preparing for the first day in advance, whether your child is starting school for the first time or entering a new grade. Many kids feel anxious about changes, like being in a new classroom and having a different teacher. Talk to them beforehand and share some of the positive aspects of school, such as making friends or learning their favorite subject. It’s also helpful to rehearse the first day or take your child to visit the school before they start so that they have an idea of what to expect and become more familiar with the environment.

If your child is going to a new school, see if there’s an orientation available that both you and them can attend. They can tour the school and meet their teachers prior to their first day. There are also many books available about starting school to read with them. Many of these share what to expect and feature characters who overcome their fears. It’s always best to prepare as much as possible for the first day, including reviewing your child’s schedule with them, knowing where their classroom is and what supplies they’ll need, and reading through the school’s guidelines. 

Before your child begins their first day, help them get back into their sleep routine for school. If your child developed a different sleep pattern during the summer holidays, they might have become used to going to bed later and waking up later. We recommend making the sleep transition prior to the start of the year so that they have the right routine once they’re back in school. Getting adequate sleep is not only important for your child’s physical and mental health, but important for their academic performance. Sleep deprivation can make it difficult for children to focus in school and can negatively affect their memory skills. 

As a reminder, grade-school children need 9-12 hours of sleep per night and teenagers need 8-10 hours. It’s best to maintain a regular sleep routine where children go to bed and wake up at the same times each day. Consistency will help your child sleep well through the night. We also recommend turning off screen devices at least one hour before your child goes to bed. The light from screen devices can cause sleep disruption or make it difficult for your child to fall asleep. 

In addition to making sure that your child is well rested, it’s also essential to start your child’s day with a healthy and nutritious breakfast. A well-balanced meal in the morning will give them the energy they need for school. 

If your kids will be taking the bus, review safety precautions with them like looking both ways on the street for any vehicles before crossing. They should also wait to board the bus until it completely stops and puts out the stop sign. 

A new school year might mean a new backpack for your child. You’ll always want to avoid a poorly fitted one as it can be unsafe for your child’s back and posture. Instead, find a backpack that has wide and padded shoulder straps and make sure to adjust them so that the bottom sits at your child’s waist. Kids should always wear both straps together to prevent muscle strain and backpacks should never weigh more than 10-20% of your child’s weight. 

Lastly, an important thing to remember for back-to-school season is keeping up with your child’s well checkups. We’ll make sure that their immunizations are up-to-date and can provide all of the necessary medical forms they’ll need for school and sports. Contact our office if you have any questions or to make an appointment.

Car Sickness

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Summer is almost here and you might have travel plans with the family. But if your child has motion sickness, that can make your trip challenging! Motion sickness happens when the brain receives conflicting signals from the motion-sensing parts. For an example, your child may be sitting in the backseat of a car and cannot see the outside, but their ears can sense the motion of the moving car. This kind of inconsistent messaging results in confusion for the brain and can activate a response that causes sickness. 

Signs and symptoms of motion sickness include stomach queasiness, cold sweats, fatigue, and loss of appetite. In some cases, your child might vomit. Most children under age 2 don’t experience car sickness, but children between ages 3 and 12 are the most susceptible.

Car sickness doesn’t mean all of your travel plans need to be cancelled. If your child gets sick, the best thing to do is to take frequent breaks during the trip. When the car stops moving, the sickness goes away. Allow your child to walk around for a bit before resuming your trip. What can also help is giving your child a light snack before your travel since hunger can worsen symptoms. It’s good for them to eat something within three hours before traveling. While in the car, playing music or engaging in conversations can distract them from feeling ill. You can also encourage them to look at things outside of the car instead of reading a book, playing electronic games, or watching something on a screen device. Providing adequate air ventilation can also prevent sickness. 

If you try all of the above methods and your child still gets motion sickness, stop the car and have your child lie on their back for a few minutes with their eyes closed. Place a cool towel on their forehead for relief. You may want to consider giving them medication. But, it’s important to know that while the medication may help, it can also cause side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth and nose, or blurred vision. Although some of these medications for motion sickness don’t require prescription, we advise you to first talk to our pediatrician before administering anything. Furthermore, if you notice your child experiencing symptoms of motion sickness during non-movement activities, especially if the symptoms include headaches and difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or talking, it’s important to contact our doctor. These symptoms could be the result of something else. 

Car sickness doesn’t always last forever. The more your child travels in the car, the more they will get used to the motion. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.