The Importance of Mental Health Screening in Pediatrics: Early Detection and Intervention

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, the team at Mesquite Pediatrics of Tucson, AZ, offers mental health screening services and treatment.

Importance of Mental Health Screenings in Pediatrics

 Mental health screenings are done at every annual visit at Mesquite Pediatrics started at six years of age. We screen for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavior problems.  We also screen for depression at every sick visit starting at age 12.  Why is mental health screening so important? The team at Mesquite Pediatrics in Tucson, AZ, shares a few reasons below.

Mental Health Issues Impact Everyone

 Many people assume that anxiety, depression, and other struggles only happen to teens and adults, but that is not the case. Younger children go through many things, from challenges in school, to conflict with peers, to family disruptions from divorce, deployments, moving to a new city and more. Such issues can lead to mental health issues.

Early Detection Is Key

The earlier an issue can be identified, the earlier it can be addressed. Regular mental health screenings allow your pediatrician to identify signs of problems that could impact the rest of your child’s life before they have the opportunity to cause too much distress. Parents are often unaware of struggles their children are experiencing because they can be good at hiding their feelings.  Screening helps to identify these struggling kids earlier than they would be discovered otherwise.

Clarity for Parents and Children

 Parents love their children and are their number one cheerleader, but parents don’t always know what to do when something seems wrong or off with their child. Anxiety can be mistaken for simple childhood fears.

Depression can look like sadness from an argument with a friend or not getting the game system they wanted. And to make it worse, children don’t always know how to communicate what they are feeling.

Regular screenings can help determine if any signs or symptoms your child displays are a normal part of growing up or if it’s something deeper. With this clarity, both the parents and the children can be proactive in managing the issue.

Opportunity for Early Treatment and Management

 If a mental health issue is identified, it can be addressed early. This may include therapy, lifestyle adjustments, medication, and more. Addressing a mental health issue early means that there is less of a chance it will have a significant impact on your child’s health, schooling, relationships, and overall well-being.

Learn more about the benefits mental health screening can provide by visiting the team at Mesquite Pediatrics in Tucson, AZ. Call (520) 648-5437 to schedule an appointment today.