Whole-child health includes mental wellness
How we support your child’s mental and emotional health
Frequent screenings
A safe space to share
Convenient access to care
Referrals to specialty care
Behavioral health basics
Many parents assume that behavioral health is the same as mental health. Not exactly — but the two are closely intertwined. Behavioral health focuses on your child’s mental and emotional well-being but also examines how their behaviors, habits, and choices affect them physically.
Behavioral health is often impacted by lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, sleep, and substance abuse. These all contribute to your child’s total well-being — and they can all be improved with timely intervention and treatment.
How we screen for behavioral health issues
Behavioral health screenings are an important part of every well visit at ABCD Pediatrics, even before the first signs of puberty begin. These screenings are integrated into routine check-ups from preadolescence through the preteen and teen years, so we can identify potential issues like anxiety or depression as soon as possible.
During well visits at ABCD Pediatrics, your provider will observe your child’s behavior and how they interact with others, including eye contact and body language. You or your child may be asked to fill out a mental health questionnaire, and your provider will ask open-ended questions to help assess your child’s well-being.
