WASHINGTON — The Parkland, Florida school shooting is weighing heavily on the minds of many area children — the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has seen a significant jump in the number of requests for help.
A typical week at CSB might include a dozen or fewer mental health assessments. Last week more than three dozen teens and families asked for help.
“It’s important that if you notice a change in your child’s behavioral patterns, or if you notice your child’s emotions are going from being happy one day to being sad the next day — that’s a good indication that it may be time to seek some help for your child,” CSB Behavioral Health Manager Peter Steinberg said.
There are a number of warning signs that suggest children might not be coping well with anxiety:
- Child becomes more isolated or spends more time in his or her bedroom
- Sleeping patterns change to include more sleep, less sleep, disrupted sleep or nightmares
- Eating more or less than usual
- Changes in school involving attendance, grades or disruptions from acting out
- Physical complaints that might include feeling tired, headaches, feeling unwell in general
- Feeling happy-go-lucky one day and sad the next
Since the shooting in Florida, there’s been in increase in phone calls and requests for help, but Steinberg also said the number of ‘walk-in’ assessments has been on the rise for about a year.
“Parents are becoming a little bit more aware that when a child changes their behavioral patterns that might be due to several different reasons, and of course, one way to help with that is to seek therapy,” Steinberg said.
So far in 2018, CSB has done 312 mental health assessments for young people.
This confidential online mental health screener takes only a few minutes to complete and can help you determine whether someone in your family might need professional help.
