A recently published study has revealed that 50% of kids in the US alone who suffer from some type of mental disorder are left untreated. Data obtained from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health was used by researchers. This was a country-wide survey, which consisted of the parents of young adolescents.
The findings of the survey showed that out of the 46.6 million kids in the 6 – 18 year age group (parents of who filled the survey), about 7.7 million teens were experiencing a minimum of one kind of mental health problem – such as ADHD, depression or anxiety. If your child is suffering from some mental health issue, here is how to choose a good adolescent psychiatrist for him or her.
Know about the area of specialization
It is a misassumption to think that all psychiatrists are capable of dealing with all kinds of mental health disorders. Actually, many of them have specialization in dealing with a particular type of mental health problem. That said, there is general adolescent psychiatrist available as well.
In many cases, a general psychiatrist is able to identify the specific mental health issue that an adolescent is suffering from, and refer him / her to a specialist. If you are unsure about which type of mental health symptoms are being displayed by your kid, it is a good idea to take him or her to a general psychiatrist first.
Check the reputation
It is very important to find out how reputed the adolescent psychiatrist is – who you are considering for the treatment of your kid. Look at the ratings and reviews received by the psychiatrist on the internet and also look at his credentials. Find out about his certification, how long he or she has been in the business, whether the adolescent psychiatrist is known for being an effective specialist in the field of specialization etc.
Opt for a free consultation
Keep in mind that when it comes to psychiatric treatment, many psychiatrists offer free of cost consultation for 15 minutes for half an hour – generally on phone. It is a good idea that you opt for such a free consultation session, which can be very useful for you in finding out about the professional and determining whether your kid would be comfortable talking to him or her.
Talk to a few psychiatrists out there, to choose an adolescent psychiatrist that you feel most comfortable talking to and find out whether he / she has enough knowledge and experience in dealing with adolescent mental health issues.
