Mental Health

Mental health is just as important as physical health for your child’s development but often gets overlooked. ASK Pediatric Services in Tallahassee, Florida, is one of the only practices in the area that focuses on child and adolescent mental health concerns. Aisha Bailey, DO, and the team communicate with patients and their parents on the importance of making mental health a household priority. Schedule an appointment over the phone or online for your child today.

What is mental health?

Mental health refers to the emotional and behavioral well-being of your child. As your child gets older, they become more in tune with their emotions and able to regulate them. 

However, poor emotional regulation indicates possible underlying mental health concerns, as can struggling in school, not getting enough sleep, or experiencing social problems. 

The team at ASK Pediatric Services welcomes your child in for detailed mental health assessments that can help diagnose a range of disorders. If they make a diagnosis, they explain it to you in detail as well as the many possible treatment options that can benefit your child. 

During preventive visits, the team at ASK Pediatric Services may offer brief mental health evaluations and tell you which signs and symptoms to watch out for. They can also make referrals to other specialists after providing confidential assessments to your child. 

Which mental health conditions can affect children?

The ASK Pediatric Services team routinely identifies signs of mental health concerns among children and adolescents. Many conditions that adults also get start during childhood or as a teenager, including:

• Depression 
• Anxiety disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

It may be hard to know when your child needs a mental health assessment because the signs and symptoms can be subtle or unfamiliar. 

Generally, you should consider checking on your child’s mental health if you notice a change in their behaviors, frequent crying and other strong emotions, trouble at school, and other signs that something is amiss. 

How do I manage my child’s mental health?

Managing your child’s mental health involves professional health care strategies alongside recommended lifestyle changes you can make at home. The team at ASK Pediatric Services listens intently to your questions and concerns before developing a unique and workable care plan. 

Mental health care for your child might involve:

• Medications (e.g. antidepressants, stimulants)
• Individual or family therapy
• Routine changes in the home
• Learning aids
• Exercise
• Holistic healing practices

The team checks in with you and your child regularly as you navigate mental health care. They may utilize telehealth to stay in close and easy communication with your family and address your concerns as quickly as possible.

Schedule an appointment over the phone or online at ASK Pediatric Services for personalized mental health care for your child today.