SNP Youth Mental Health — Children and Teens
Is your child dealing with anxiety, meltdowns, difficulties at school, or do you suspect ADHD?
Do you feel that something isn't right with your child or teen, but you're not sure exactly what's going on?
Anxiety, temper tantrums, difficulty concentrating, a change in behaviour, withdrawal, shutting down, school difficulties, or hard-to-manage emotions can leave a parent wondering: is this just a difficult phase, or should I seek help?
At Accès Infirmières, our specialized nurse practitioner (SNP) in youth mental health supports children, teens and their parents in better understanding the situation and determining the appropriate interventions.
Fast access, a human approach, and concrete solutions for your child and your family.
When should you consult for your child's or teen's mental health?
A consultation with a youth mental health SNP may be worthwhile if your child:
- experiences anxiety, worries or significant fears
- has frequent or hard-to-manage temper tantrums
- withdraws or isolates more
- seems sad or shows a change in mood
- has difficulty managing their emotions
- shows difficulties with attention, concentration or impulsivity
- struggles at school
- shows oppositional behaviour
- experiences difficulty adapting
- shows a change in behaviour that concerns you
- or if you suspect ADHD, an anxiety disorder or another mental health condition
Sometimes a parent can't pinpoint the exact problem. You can also consult simply because you feel your child isn't doing well and you need a professional perspective to see things more clearly.
Assessing ADHD, anxiety and other mental health difficulties
The mental health SNP can carry out a clinical assessment to better understand the symptoms, functioning and difficulties experienced by your child or teen.
Depending on the situation, the assessment may address:
- ADHD
- anxiety
- separation anxiety
- mood disorders
- depression
- oppositional defiant disorder
- childhood conduct disorder
- adjustment difficulties
- anorexia
- giftedness
- pica / rumination disorder
- schizophrenia
- bipolar disorder
- other mental health conditions
We do not make appointments for autism spectrum disorders.
What can the mental health SNP do for your child?
Depending on the assessment and your child's needs, the SNP can notably:
- carry out a clinical mental health assessment
- assess various conditions, including ADHD and anxiety
- establish a personalized intervention plan
- prescribe medication when indicated
- follow up on medication and clinical progress
- offer concrete recommendations for daily life
- support and guide parents
- produce, when required, a report or documents for the school or other professionals
- collaborate with professionals already involved with your child
The goal isn't just to put a name on a difficulty. It's also to understand what's happening and determine what to do next.
ADHD assessment in children and teens
Does your child have trouble concentrating? Do they frequently forget things, seem constantly distracted, move a lot, act impulsively, or struggle significantly at school?
These signs can have different causes and deserve a comprehensive assessment.
The mental health SNP can assess the situation to determine appropriate interventions and, when required, establish a treatment plan, prescribe medication and provide follow-up.
Recommendations or documents can also be shared with professionals and the school when the situation requires it.
Anxiety in children and teens
Anxiety doesn't always show up as "I'm scared" or "I'm anxious."
In some children and teens, it can show up as stomach aches, irritability, meltdowns, sleep difficulties, avoidance, constant worry, refusing to go to school, or a strong need for reassurance.
An assessment helps to better understand what your child is going through and to determine the interventions that could help.
Support for parents too
When a child isn't doing well, parents can feel overwhelmed too.
You may be wondering how to intervene, what limits to set, what to take seriously, or whether your approach is the right one.
Youth mental health support therefore also aims to give you answers, tools and clear direction to better support your child.
Collaboration with the school and other professionals
A young person's mental health doesn't stop at the clinic door.
When relevant and authorized, the SNP can work in collaboration with the professionals around your child and provide recommendations or documents that can support the continuity of care.
This collaboration may notably involve the school and other professionals involved in your child's follow-up.
Fast access to youth mental health care
When a child is struggling, waiting months for help can be difficult for the whole family.
Accès Infirmières offers fast access to a youth mental health SNP, with a human, professional approach centred on the needs of the child and their parents.
Have questions about your child's mental health?
A first consultation can help you better understand the situation and determine next steps.
Make an appointment with our youth mental health SNP.