Although relatively quiet, Kevin had always been a busy boy, involved in team sports and a number of hobby clubs. Given his past behavior, Kevin's mother, Elizabeth, was worried. On several recent occasions, she had found Kevin sitting alone and idle in his darkened bedroom.

In response to her questions of concern, Kevin insisted nothing was wrong. It was an answer, Elizabeth told her son, that she could not accept. "Something is obviously troubling you," she said to Kevin. She also told her son that if he was uncomfortable talking to her or his father, he had the option of talking to the family doctor or minister or a counselor.

Confronted by his parent's refusal to simply go away, Kevin finally revealed to his mother that for no real reason he had simply begun to feel blue lately. "Some days," he said, "the blue becomes black."

All parents need to be vigilant as regards the mental health of their children. Symptoms of poor mental health range from a loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed to a sudden obsession with weight gain or appearance.

It's a fact that looking after a child's mental health is harder than looking after a child's cold or scraped knee. Most parents can competently deal with minor medical ailments and common childhood illnesses. However, the majority of parents will probably wish to enlist the help of a professional to deal with a child who is suffering mentally.

Left untreated, a young person's mental health problems can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, violence and even suicide. However, with early intervention and treatment, the vast majority of young people overcome their emotional problems. That's news in which Elizabeth and Kevin, who is now meeting regularly with a psychologist, take solace.

© Algoma Family Services