Use M.A.S.K
According to the Office of National Statistics 75% of adults who have mental health problems first experienced them by the time they were 18 years old. The sooner you can spot the signs in childhood, the better.
Young people's behaviour can change a lot as they grow up, with hormones and external influences making them seem moody or uncommunicative. This can make mental health issues more difficult to spot, with many of us not knowing whether young people are just being a 'typical teenager', or if there is something more to be worried about.
Our charity partner, Action for Children, has created M.A.S.K, a symptoms checker to help you feel more confident in spotting the signs of mental health conditions in the young people in your life.
The M.A.S.K acronym can help you remember what signs to look out for:
- M is for Mood - They get excessively irritable, argumentative or aggressive towards you. They may blame you if things go wrong. Watch out for sleeping and eating patterns changing.
- A is for Actions - They suddenly appear especially bored, lonely or withdrawn or they start to get into trouble. Watch out for signs of bullying, alcohol, drugs and other forms of self-harm.
- S is for Social - Losing interest in friends and other things they usually like to do or missing school are common warning signs. Check out how much time they’re spending on phones and social media.
- K is for Keep talking - Refusing to talk about how they’re feeling is common. But keep listening and keep trying. When they do open up, make sure they know there’s someone there who really cares. Help is on hand for you too.
If you suspect something isn’t right, please visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk/sooner for more information on how to understand some of the feelings your child is experiencing. You can also find coping mechanisms and techniques used by Action for Children's Blues Busters, and other helpful links.
Please download Action for Children’s M.A.S.K leaflet and poster to use personally or to share with others.
