Children ’ s Mental Health
What if my child is angry , depressed , has anxiety , is being bullied or just not acting like him / herself lately ?
The first step is to bring your child in for a free screening . Community Hospitals provides free screenings that are conducted by a Registered Nurse or a Masters Level Prepared Therapist . After you register , you and your child will meet together with the screener , followed by one-on-one sessions with the screener . Once all of the information is gathered , the screener discusses and reviews the data collected with the psychiatrist . The psychiatrist then determines the best course of treatment for your child , which could include any of the following :
» Participation in Outpatient Services
» Participation in a Day Treatment Program – this service is only provided by referral from the Psychiatrist
What if I fear that my child may hurt him / herself or others ?
If you ever feel that your child is going to hurt him / herself or others , or if his / her behavior is out of control or dangerous , the first thing you need to do is call 911 . This decision can be extremely difficult because there is a “ fear of the unknown ” factor like what will happen to our children if we call for help . However , the thing to remember is that you don ’ t have to wait until your child is at the point of endangering him / herself or others , you can call for help at any time . Below is an overview of what to expect when you call 911 :
» When you call 911 , a law enforcement official will be sent to assess the situation .
» If the officer doesn ’ t feel like your child meet the requirements for the Baker Act , he / she may recommend that you take your child to the
» Admittance to an Inpatient Program
» They might determine that your child is just having a bad day
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