Parents also report that it is difficult to get mental health care for teens<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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MONDAY, March 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Only four in 10 parents say their teen’s primary care provider asks about mental health concerns at all check-ups, according to the results of a survey released March 21 by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.<\/p>\n
A national sample of 1,201 parents of children aged 11 to 18 were asked about their views and experiences with screening and care for mental health issues.<\/p>\n
The poll found that most parents (95 percent) felt somewhat or very confident they would recognize a possible mental health issue in their adolescent, saying the following signs would prompt their concern: frequent comments about being worried or anxious (65 percent); moodiness (64 percent); decreased interaction with family (63 percent); drop in grades (61 percent); or a change in sleep (53 percent) or eating patterns (49 percent). Yet, less than half of parents (43 percent) said they would book an appointment with a health care provider in response to a possible mental health issue. Almost two-thirds of parents say their health care provider always (41 percent) or sometimes (22 percent) asks about mental health concerns at check-ups. Of parents reporting their teen has seen a mental health care specialist (27 percent), 46 percent say it was difficult getting care.<\/p>\n
“The pandemic caused significant stress and social disruption for kids that likely exacerbated these problems, as we’re seeing a growing number of young people face mental health concerns,” Mott Poll codirector Gary L. Freed, M.D., said in a statement. “This places a heavier burden on parents, health providers, and other trusted adults in their lives to be aware of potential warning signs.”<\/p>\n