From two of the top child and adolescent psychiatrists at The Hospital for Sick Children comes an accessible guide to common mental health struggles, such as anxiety and depression, for any parent wondering how to help their child.
Is my child okay? Is she eating and sleeping enough? Is he hanging out with the right people? Should I be worried that she spends all her time in her room? Is this just a phase? Or a sign of something serious?
As parents, we worry about our children—about their physical health, performance at school, the types of friends they have, and, of course, their mental health. Every day seems to bring new and expanding issues and disorders and troubling statistics about the rise of mental illness in children and teens. It’s usually obvious what to do for physical injuries like broken bones, but when it comes to our children’s mental health, the answers are much less clear, and sometimes even contradictory.
Pier Bryden and Peter Szatmari, top child and adolescent psychiatrists, are here to help. Using their combined six decades working with families and kids—and their own experiences as parents—they break down the stigma of mental health illness and walk parents through the warning signs, risk factors, prevention strategies, and the process of diagnosis and treatment for mental health challenges arising from:
–Eating disorders
–Anxiety
–Psychosis
–Sleep Disorders
–Substance Use Disorders
–ADHD
–Autism
–Depression
–Trauma
–Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
The most important thing to remember as a parent is that you and your child are not alone. Wellness is a continuum, and there is a lot parents can do to bring their child back to a place of safety. The road ahead isn’t always easy or straightforward, but this guidebook offers essential advice that every parent needs to advocate for their child.
“I believe mental health in children is more important than dental health. I’d much rather my child have NO problems coping than NO cavities. This book shows parents what they can do to help their kids.”
— HOWIE MANDEL, comedian, actor, and Bell Let’s Talk Ambassador
“As a parent who watched and supported my child who experienced bullying and the emotional struggles that came with it, I’m grateful for Start Here, a resource for parents to understand mental health concerns—how to recognize them early and strategies to support mental health within the home.”
— KATHERINE HAY, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone
“This important book is a front door to understanding the uncertain, bewildering, and sometimes frightening challenges that our children face in terms of mental health. The authors, both seasoned child psychiatrists, provide helpful and hopeful plain-language explanations of common and less common mental disorders and the types of treatment that can make a significant difference, while reminding parents to trust their instincts if they are worried, to focus on understanding and help rather than blame, and to realize that they are not alone.”
— DAVID S. GOLDBLOOM, OC, MD, FRCPC, Senior Medical Advisor at CAMH, and co-author with Dr. Pier Bryden of the bestselling How Can I Help? A Week in My Life as a Psychiatrist
“Having watched several friends navigate various mental health concerns with their children, I know that Start Here is such an important resource not only for parents, but also anyone who has a close relationship with a child in their lives. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, and by showing us what signs of potential mental illness to watch for—and what we can do to help—this book is a step towards a healthier future for us all.”
— CYNTHIA LOYST, co-host of CTV’s The Social and author of Find Your Pleasure
