# Seeking mental-health help for the child

**When should we seek mental-health help for our child?**

When you would involve a professional about your child's emotions or behavior: at early signs, after the pediatrician, or only if serious.

In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Therapy or assessment at early signs; Pediatrician first, watchful waiting; Handle within the family unless severe. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: school age.

- Area: Emotions and resilience
- Evidence: Your call
- Best settled: School age
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/emotions-and-resilience--seeking-mental-health-help-for-the-child

## Seeking mental-health help for the child: what are the options?

1. **Therapy or assessment at early signs**: You seek a professional opinion as soon as you notice a concern.
2. **Pediatrician first, watchful waiting**: You talk to the pediatrician and keep watching before going further.
3. **Handle within the family unless severe**: You deal with it at home unless it becomes serious.

## Seeking mental-health help for the child: what does the evidence say?

**Your call.** No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

no outcome research gathered; 40% of US parents are very worried about a child's anxiety or depression

Sources:

- [Pew](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/01/24/parenting-in-america-today/)

## What else is worth knowing?

Parents differ in how readily they involve professionals for worries about mood, behavior or development. Early help can be valuable, and some concerns pass with time. Agreeing on your threshold beforehand avoids delay when one of you is worried.

## Questions to ask each other

- What would make us look for help for our child?
- How do we each feel about therapy?
- Who would we turn to first with a worry about our child's mood?

---

General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=emotions-and-resilience&topic=emotions-and-resilience--seeking-mental-health-help-for-the-child