When To Seek Professional Help
While many children experience temporary worries or anxiety, certain situations warrant professional support.
Consult a mental health professional if:
Early intervention can make a significant difference. If you're unsure, for non-emergency situations, consult your pediatrician or a mental health specialist who can assess your child's needs and recommend appropriate treatment options. Additional resources are below:
- Symptoms persist for more than a few weeks or significantly interfere with daily life:
- Ongoing anxiety that does not improve over time may require specialized intervention.
- Significantly interfere with daily functioning: If anxiety symptoms are causing your child to struggle with school, social activities, or daily routines, it's important to seek help.
- Your family feels overwhelmed: If your child's anxiety is affecting family dynamics or your ability to cope, a mental health professional can provide guidance and support.
- Warning signs of severe anxiety or distress: Such as panic attacks, self-harm thoughts, or withdrawal from all social interactions.
Early intervention can make a significant difference. If you're unsure, for non-emergency situations, consult your pediatrician or a mental health specialist who can assess your child's needs and recommend appropriate treatment options. Additional resources are below:
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness - Help Line is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET.
- Call 800-950-6264
- Text “NAMI” to 62640
- Teen Line
- Call 800-852-8336 Nationwide (U.S.) (6 PM - 10 PM PST)
- TEXT TEEN to 839863 (6 PM - 9 PM PST)
