When Does Your Child Need Professional Mental Health Care
It’s safe to say that adolescents experience a wide range of emotions and behaviors. So how do you know when those emotions or behaviors have strayed beyond the range of “normal”? Just what is considered “normal” behavior? And, more importantly, how can a parent know when a child’s emotions or behaviors require attention by a mental health professional? These aren’t easy questions, and there aren’t any one-size-fits-all answers. However, there are some guidelines that can help you decide when it’s time to seek help.
Changing One Life Changes Everything.
Did you know foster parents can be single or married, parents or grandparents, young or old? They can have children of their own or no children at all. They can have dreams of adopting or just a desire to help kids who need it.
In other words, foster parents look just like you.
All you need to become a foster parent is an extra bedroom, a commitment to a child’s safety, and the willingness to invest in their future.
Generations of Giving
Pat and Paul Curran were “hometown sweethearts” from Hornell, New York, who married and moved to Minnesota.
Honoring a Friend
A curious heart
Melissa made the decision to donate to Nexus in honor of a friend of hers who spent a portion of his childhood in a foster home. As she began to learn more about his experiences growing up, and started to do some of her own mental health work, she understand how much early childhood trauma carries with us into adulthood and shapes how we handle conflict and relationships with other people throughout our lives.
Paying It Forward
From the time she was 13, Bill Spotts' daughter began behaving differently and more dangerously. Smoking. Drinking, Drugs. Cutting herself. Suicidal ideation. And more.
Searching for help
On several occasions, the Spotts had their daughter hospitalized when her thoughts of suicide became severe. But she was always released after only 7-14 days, never enough to get to the root of her problem. She needed more intensive treatment, but at the time, admittance into a Maryland residential treatment facility was nearly impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the category of questions below or simply scroll down the page to learn more about how Nexus Family Healing can support you.
Parent Resources
Nexus is committed to involving families in the treatment process. That includes providing information and resources to help you better understand your child's mental health and family needs during this time.
Talking to Your Kid about Their Drug or Alcohol Problem
Many parents don't notice the signs of their child's drug or alcohol abuse right away. Often times, a child has developed a serious problem before parents begin to suspect anything is wrong. Results from Partnership for a Drug-Free America's Attitude Tracking Study reveal that only 14% of surveyed parents acknowledged the possibility of their teen trying marijuana, while 42% of the polled teens admitted to having smoked marijuana. Teens hide their alcohol and drug use from their parents, and parents seem to deny their child is using drugs and alcohol.
Understanding Self-Harm
Intentional self-injury is one of the leading reasons American teens and young adults end up in the emergency room. Self-harm can be done in a number of ways, the most common being cutting, burning, hitting, picking at the skin, pulling out hair, biting, and carving. The following list can help you identify self-harming behaviors in your child: