Q If I am concerned about mental, behavioral, or emotional symptoms in my young child, how do I know if my childs problems are serious?
If you are concerned about your childs behaviour and Mental Health, you first need to talk to him about his behavioural changes and should try to find out any significant cause behind it. Any changes in behaviour, emotions, socialization and mental status should be taken seriously if they are enough to affect persons work/school, study, regular activities, social or personal relations etc, in a destructive way. Do not try to judge anything yourself. Take help of family physician or his treating pediatrician to assess his behaviour, emotions and Mental Health more accurately. He will be the best to inform you about the severity and any further steps needed accordingly. Also you can try to educate yourself about children psychology through reading, surfing on net, joining different programmes oriented for education in parents about children psychology etc. If your child is in his teen age, then most likely cause of his behavioural, emotional and mental changes is hormonal turmoil going on in his body, which is a natural process and there is nothing serious. In this case, your understanding and support as a friend will be the most needed thing for him.