Page 54 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2017

KIDS brain development
EARLY INTERVENTION
IS KEY IN TREATING
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
IN CHILDREN
story by Laura Walker, staff writer for Canopy Children’s Solutions photos courtesy of Canopy Children’s Solutions
When a child breaks his arm, his parents don’t hesitate to have him checked. If a child is diagnosed with cancer, her parents find a specialist to treat her. When a child suffers from a behavioral or mental health disorder, the stigma associated with the condition sometimes discourages parents from seeking the treatment so desperately needed.
Today, one out of five children in the U.S. experiences a mental health challenge — up to 70 percent begin showing symptoms by the age of 14. Treatment does work and early intervention yields the greatest success. The time between prenatal development and early adulthood is crucial for brain development. Untreated mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and stress disorders can negatively impact the normal course of brain development. Early intervention is key in preventing and reducing the progression of illnesses, as well as improving longer-term mental and physical health outcomes.
“I have worked in mental health for 20 years, and I know the window for change gets smaller and more difficult the longer you wait to begin treatment,” said Susan Arceneaux, Outpatient Services Supervisor for Canopy’s Behavioral Health Clinic in Gulfport. “Early intervention is critical for positive outcomes, just like it
is in physical health.”
Prompt diagnosis and intervention in the early stages
of a mental illness can have a significant and life- changing impact on a child. Outpatient services, such as those offered through Canopy’s Behavioral Health Clinic, allow families to seek confidential treatment with a wide variety of evidence-based treatments and effective coping skills including cognitive behavior therapy, play therapy, relaxation techniques, family therapy, and role playing. Individualized therapy provides the child with the tools they need to be successful in their daily life.
When a child faces a mental or behavioral health disorder, a parent must look beyond the stigma associated with mental health and place them on a trajectory to thrive. By addressing issues early, you are helping the child become a success story.
Canopy Children’s Solutions
800.388.6247 www.mycanopy.org
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