Mental Health in Children and Adolescence

Raising Children Network, Australia

Related to Anxiety, Bullying, Child mental health, Depression

This webpage provides information for parents and carers about mental health and wellbeing in children aged between 9-15 years old.

It includes the following topics:

‘What is mental health?’
‘Promoting good mental health in adolescence’
‘Signs your child might need help’
‘Talking with your child about mental health’
‘Getting help for your child’
‘Mental disorders’
‘Helping your child with a diagnosed mental disorder’

Discover more resources

Short article

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

Melissa Willoughby and Joanna Schwarzman, Australian Institute of Family Studies

This short article describes the research evidence on individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing.
Webinar

A whole child approach to disaster recovery

Emerging Minds and Mental Health Professionals' Network (MHPN)

This webinar, co-produced by the Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN), our panel of experts explore ways to support infants and children following a disaster.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: October 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This October 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This September 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Practice paper

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Emotional regulation

Emerging Minds

This resource explains the importance of connection, emotional literacy and environment in helping children feel safe, and how regulation can be achieved through the body using sensory- and movement-based exercises, along with fun, relaxing and mindfulness activities.
Practice paper

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Communication and meaning-making

Emerging Minds

This resource offers strategies to support children in making sense of their experiences and process their feelings to help reduce distress, and prevent trauma and mental health difficulties.
Practice paper

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Play and creative expression

Emerging Minds

This resource demonstrates the importance of encouraging play and creative expression to help children unpack, explore and process difficult experiences like disaster. Creative expression is encouraged as a way for children to communicate about complex emotions and feelings, especially when they might be difficult to articulate verbally
Practice paper

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Routines and predictability

Emerging Minds

Re-establishing routines and setting boundaries and expectations are important for restoring children's sense of stability and safety after a disaster, especially when they have to spend time away from their parents or home.
Practice paper

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Support networks

Emerging Minds

In addition to the support of extended family, friends and the learning community, responses from governments and specialist mental health services plus digital resources are important to the successful recovery of children and families after a disaster.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: August 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This August 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: July 2024

Prepared by AIFS

This July 2024 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Fact sheet

Unmasking stigma: Effects on families

Emerging Minds

This resource was created to help us understand how stigma effects families. Families share their stories to show the harms stigma can cause.

Mental Health in Children and Adolescence

Raising Children Network, Australia

Discover more resources

Individual and family factors associated with child mental health and wellbeing

A whole child approach to disaster recovery

Highlights in child mental health research: October 2024

Highlights in child mental health research: September 2024

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Emotional regulation

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Communication and meaning-making

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Play and creative expression

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Routines and predictability

Strategies for supporting the mental health of infants and children after a disaster: Support networks

Highlights in child mental health research: August 2024

Highlights in child mental health research: July 2024

Unmasking stigma: Effects on families

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