Child Mental Health: Expert Answers To Common Questions Every Parent Wants To Ask

Parenting brings countless questions, and when it comes to mental health, many parents could feel uncertain about what is normal, what needs attention, and when to seek help.

Mental health is not just the absence of a mental health condition. It's also about children's emotional well-being, relationships, ability to cope with everyday challenges, and to feel safe, connected, and supported.

According to the World Health Organization, around one in seven adolescents aged 10–19 years experiences a mental health condition globally. Anxiety, depression, and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability in this age group. WHO also emphasises that supportive families, schools and communities are important in promoting children's mental well-being.

So, how can parents support their children's mental health?

In this Q&A, child and adolescent psychologist and family therapist Dr Shelja Sen answers some common questions parents ask, offering practical ways to understand and support children's emotional well-being.

Why parents need to prioritise children’s mental health

Q: Parents usually tend to prioritise physical health over mental health. How important is it for them to be aware of their children's mental health? Is there enough awareness about it in our country?

A: Parents need to be aware of their children's emotional well-being and developmental needs. There is awareness in our country, but only in certain pockets. We need to make children's mental health a priority across the country, at all levels of the socio-economic strata. We need to remove the stigma and streamline discussions on this topic through media, workshops in schools, awareness programmes for parents, teachers, and all agencies involved with children.

What can parents do?

Awareness can begin at home. Parents don't need to become mental health experts. They can start by noticing changes in their child's behaviour, listening without immediately judging or correcting, and creating an environment where children feel safe talking about difficult experiences.

A child’s emotional wellbeing matters, whether or not they have a mental health condition.

Does today's lifestyle affect children's mental well-being?

Q: In today's fast-paced world, children are exposed to a whole host of distractions. Does this make them more susceptible to poor mental health?

 A: Yes, there is excessive use of gadgets, the Internet, and social media. Some children suffer from Internet addiction, and some also get violent if their gadgets are taken away from them. However, we need to be aware that many times, children who start depending on gadgets excessively have an underlying mental health problem. The same goes for junk food and unhealthy sleeping habits. This is where parents play a big role in regulating healthier lifestyles.

Look at the bigger picture

Technology use, sleep, physical activity, food habits, and social connection affect a child's overall well-being. But it is important to not assume a child's screen use or sleep pattern is automatically the cause of an emotional or behavioural difficulty.

If a child is spending increasing amounts of time online, for example, parents can look beyond the behaviour and ask: What is my child getting from this? Is it connection, entertainment, escape, comfort or something else?

Persistent changes in mood, behaviour, relationships, sleep, school participation or everyday functioning may warrant a closer look and, when needed, professional guidance.

Helping children understand mental health

Q: How can parents make their children aware of mental well-being and health?

A: Parents can create awareness in their children by first building their own awareness. Depending on the age of the child, they can talk to them in the following ways:

• Use stories, movies, and TV programmes for discussions on the main characters and their feelings.
• Share your own experiences of feeling hurt, angry, or scared, and talk about how you coped with those feelings.
• Teach children to accept their struggles and difficulties rather than expecting them to be perfect at everything.
• Explain that each person is different and that these differences make the world more interesting.
• Most importantly, listen when children talk about their problems without being judgmental or blaming them.

Make emotional conversations part of everyday life

A child does not need a formal 'mental health conversation' every time they experience a difficult emotion.

You could talk about feelings while reading a story, watching a film, travelling together, or discussing something that happened at school. Ask questions such as:

“How do you think that character felt?”

“Have you ever felt that way?”

“What helped you when you felt like that?”

When parents listen without immediately giving advice, children are more likely to experience conversations about emotions as safe rather than threatening.

What can affect a child's mental health?

Q: What factors affect a child's mental health?

A: Several factors can influence a child's mental health, including:

• Family history of mental health problems
• Family conflicts
• Academic problems
• Relationship issues
• Trauma, abuse, and other adverse experiences

Supportive relationships at home and school can be protective factors, while experiences such as violence, abuse, discrimination, social isolation, and persistent stress can increase vulnerability.

This is why it is rarely helpful to look for one single cause when a child is struggling.

Mental health and developmental conditions can affect children and teens

Q: How are mental health conditions diagnosed in young children? Are there any conditions that are commonly seen in children and teens?

A. Mental health conditions are assessed by qualified professionals using clinical interviews, developmental and behavioural information and, where appropriate, standardised assessment tools. Different professionals may be involved depending on the child's concerns.

Conditions that may affect children and adolescents include anxiety and depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and behavioural disorders. Children may also have neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD or autism, or learning difficulties that require assessment and support.

It is important to distinguish between a symptom, behaviour, difficulty and diagnosis. For example, refusing to attend school can be a sign that a child is experiencing anxiety, bullying, learning difficulties, family stress or another concern. School refusal itself is not a diagnosis.

The WHO's ICD-11 is the current international classification system for mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders. The ICD-11 clinical descriptions and diagnostic requirements are intended to support accurate diagnosis by qualified professionals.

Parents should therefore avoid diagnosing a child based on an online checklist or a single behaviour. If concerns persist or interfere with a child's everyday life, a qualified professional can help understand what is happening.

Treatment approaches for children with mental health challenges

Q. How are children's mental health challenges treated?

A: We follow a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach to work with children and adolescents, where the professionals involved could be:

• Child and adolescent psychologists
• Child and adolescent psychiatrists
• Occupational therapists
• Developmental therapists
• Psychotherapists
• Speech and language therapists
• Special educators

Various therapeutic approaches include family therapy, parenting, CBT, play therapy, group therapy and therapy using expressive arts.

There is no single approach for every child

The right support depends on the child's age, developmental stage, concerns, circumstances and needs. Some children may benefit from psychological therapy, while others may need developmental, educational or family support. In some situations, a child psychiatrist may recommend medication as part of treatment.

Early identification and appropriate support can make a difference. WHO and UNICEF emphasise the importance of accessible, age-appropriate mental health care and early action for children and young people.

Most importantly, seeking professional help should not be seen as a sign that a parent has failed. It is one way of giving a child the support they need.

What everyday habits support children's mental health?

Q: What lifestyle changes do you recommend to enhance a child's mental health?

A: Parents must ensure that children follow a routine, adopt regular sleep patterns, have a healthy diet, exercise well, have opportunities for socialising, enjoy family bonding and, most of all, are given enough play time.

WHO also identifies healthy sleep, exercise, coping skills, problem-solving and interpersonal skills as important aspects of adolescent mental well-being.

Children need rest, spontaneity, play, and to be themselves.

Q: How are children with mental health problems treated? Are they treatable at all?

A: No mental health disorder is untreatable. We follow a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach to work with children and adolescents, where the professionals involved could be:

• Child and adolescent psychologists
• Child and adolescent psychiatrists
• Occupational therapists
• Developmental therapists
• Psychotherapists
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Special Educators

We have various therapeutic approaches that include family therapy, parenting, CBT, play therapy, group therapy, and therapy using expressive arts.

The role of schools in children's emotional well-being

Q: What role does a school play in ensuring that the child enjoys good mental health?

A: The school plays a huge role in providing an emotionally safe space for children to grow, develop, express themselves, learn, and take risks. Children need a community that accepts them for who they are, cares for their well-being, and gives them a sense of belonging—no matter their ability, disability, appearance, class, caste, religion, or gender.

Therefore, when children have emotional difficulties, it's important that schools and parents come together to support them rather than blame the children or each other.

Parents and schools are partners

A child's emotional well-being does not belong exclusively to the home or the school. Teachers may notice changes in classroom participation, friendships, or learning that parents do not see. Parents may have important insights into changes at home.

When concerns arise, sharing information respectfully and working together can help adults understand the child more fully.

What are the five anchors of parenting?

Q: In your book, All You Need is Love: The Art of Mindful Parenting, you have mentioned the five anchors of parenting. Can you brief us about them?

A: The five anchors of parenting are Connect, Coach, Care, Community, and Commit. They are interlinked and flow from one to another.

Connection is the foundation—laying down nourishing soil replete with love, worthiness, joy, recognition, and positive energy.

Coaching builds life skills in children by understanding their unique wiring.

Caring is about nurturing ourselves for a more wholesome life.

Community is about building caring ecosystems for children to live in.

Commitment is about sustaining courage and compassion for our whole-hearted parenting journey.

What inspired you to start Children First?

Q: Children First is a very different initiative and one that has grabbed attention. What inspired you to take up such a cause?

A: The inspiration came from the amazing children and their families my husband (a child and adolescent psychiatrist) and I met every day in our respective professions. Also, our goal was not just to set up services for children with mental health difficulties; we also wanted to build awareness and sensitise people about children's emotional needs. Our vision is simple—building a community of concern for all children.

Supporting your child's mental health starts with connection

Every child's mental health journey will look different. Parents don't need all the answers, nor do they need to turn every change in behaviour into a cause for concern.

What matters is:

• Staying curious, observant and compassionate.
• Listening to your child.
• Making space for difficult conversations.
• Paying attention to persistent changes in behaviour or functioning.

And when something doesn't feel right, don't hesitate to seek professional guidance.

Supporting mental health is about helping children know they do not have to face difficulties alone.

Remember, just being present, patient, and willing to learn makes a world of difference.

Parent checklist

• Make conversations about feelings a normal part of family life.
• Listen to your child without immediately judging, blaming, or trying to fix the problem.
• Pay attention to persistent changes in mood, behaviour, sleep, relationships or school participation.
• Look at the whole picture rather than assuming one behaviour has one cause.
• Protect time for sleep, play, physical activity, family connection and friendships.
• Work collaboratively with your child's school when concerns arise.
• Avoid diagnosing your child based on online information or checklists.
• Seek professional guidance when emotional or behavioural difficulties persist or interfere with everyday life.
• Remember, asking for help is a form of care, not a parenting failure.

Dr Shelja Sen is a child and adolescent psychologist, family therapist, narrative therapist, writer and co-founder of Children First. She holds an MA, MPhil and DClinPsych, along with a Master's in Narrative Therapy & Community Work. She is a TED speaker, columnist, and author of All You Need is Love, Imagine and Reclaim Your Life. She is also a Clinical Tutor at the University of Melbourne and an international faculty member at Dulwich Centre Foundation, Adelaide, Australia.

Need more information? Trusted resources:

• World Health Organization (WHO): Mental health of adolescents
• WHO and UNICEF: Mental health of children and young people—service guidance
• WHO: ICD-11 Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Requirements for Mental, Behavioural and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Children First: Resources and information on child and adolescent mental health
• Shelja Sen, All You Need is Love: The Art of Mindful Parenting — HarperCollins India

Last updated on September 30, 2026