Behavioral Health
When you take your child to the pediatrician, their physical health is likely at the top of your mind. You want to know that they’re growing properly and that there are no health concerns. That said, while your child’s physical well-being is extremely important, however, their mental health is just as important to maintaining ther overall health and well being.
Unfortunately, often times parents and guardians overlook the signs and symptom of mental health disorders that can give insight to their children’s behavioral health. More than 14 million children and adolescents in the United States, or 1 in 5, have a diagnosable mental health disorder that requires intervention or monitoring and that interferes with daily functioning.
As parents, many behavioral problems seem like a normal part of a child growing up and you might not think there’s a reason to suspect that they have a mental health disorder. Not only can it be difficult for the adults in a child’s life to notice if they’re having mental health issues, but children themselves also might not realize that something is wrong.
That’s why PAK Pediatrics is proud to offer treatment not just for your children’s physical health, but also for children’s behavioral health in Northeastern PA. We’re excited to offer in-house behavioral health servcies for existing and new patients, so schedule an appointment at one of our locations in Kingston, Clarks Summit, Pittston or Mountain Top today!
Behavioral health screenings
While many children with mental health disorders are not being diagnosed, primary care pediatricians have been identifying children with emotional and behavioral disorders at an increasing rate.
Here at PAK Pediatrics, our pediatricians know to screen for potential mental health and behavioral problems. By doing this, our pediatricians can help ensure that all children are getting the care and support they need to live happy and healthy lives.
Diagnosing mental health disorders is crucial for a child’s well-being and safety. Having an undiagnosed mental health disorder can impact every aspect of a child’s life, such as at school, with friends, and at home. Some mental health disorders can also put children in harm’s way or can begin to affect their physical health.
For many mental health disorders in children, effective therapies and treatments
are available that can help to make a huge impact on a child’s behavior, which is why getting a diagnosis as soon as possible is so important.
Our team at PAK Pediatrics knows how prevalent mental health issues are in children and are always paying attention to any signs that a child could have a diagnosable mental health disorder, so we frequently screen for developmental and behavioral delays and disorders.
Starting at age 11, we begin to screen children for depression during their well visits. It’s important to note that, during this time, you might be asked to leave the room to encourage a more open conversation. Your child’s safety and health privacy are always our top priorities.
Comprehensive pediatric care
At PAK, we take pediatric behavioral health in Northeastern PA very seriously. We know that offering behavioral health services is a key part of providing children and families with the highest quality pediatric care.
That’s why PAK providers evaluate for signs of mental health disorders in children and young adults. As we are not therapists, we do not provide the specific behavioral counseling some patients require. In these cases, we guide parents about where to go for the help their child needs and recommend an experienced child behavioral health therapist or counselor in Northeastern PA.
Our PAK providers are comfortable treating common behavioral conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and ADHD. What each child needs to manage their mental health disorder will vary and there is a wide variety of options available depending on their needs.
For more information on care for your children’s mental health in Northeastern PA, contact PAK Pediatrics today! We have various behavioral health professionals available to help manage your families behavioral health needs.