Child Mental Health Check-In Guide

I'm worried about my child's mental health and I want to understand what I'm seeing and what to do about it.

Child's age: [AGE]
What I've noticed: [DESCRIBE — changes in mood / withdrawal / not eating / sleep problems / loss of interest / something they've said]
How long: [TIME]
Whether anything happened around the time it started: [OR 'nothing obvious']
What I've done so far: [talked to them / spoken to school / nothing / sought GP advice]

Give me a practical guide:
1. **What's normal vs what's a concern** at this age — the context that helps me calibrate
2. **How to open a conversation with them** — what to say, what not to say
3. **What to watch for** that would prompt urgent action
4. **Talking to their school** — what to share and what to ask for
5. **Getting professional help** — how to access CAMHS or private support, what to expect
6. **How to look after myself** while I'm worried about my child

I'm worried about my child's mental health and I want to understand what I'm seeing and what to do about it.

Child's age: [AGE]
What I've noticed: [DESCRIBE — changes in mood / withdrawal / not eating / sleep problems / loss of interest / something they've said]
How long: [TIME]
Whether anything happened around the time it started: [OR 'nothing obvious']
What I've done so far: [talked to them / spoken to school / nothing / sought GP advice]

Give me a practical guide:
1. **What's normal vs what's a concern** at this age — the context that helps me calibrate
2. **How to open a conversation with them** — what to say, what not to say
3. **What to watch for** that would prompt urgent action
4. **Talking to their school** — what to share and what to ask for
5. **Getting professional help** — how to access CAMHS or private support, what to expect
6. **How to look after myself** while I'm worried about my child