Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 4, 1995                   TAG: 9510040038
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

KIDS' PROBLEMS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THEY GROW

That's why mental health issues cross generations and why, indeed, children's mental health is an important concern.

Many common mental health conditions may have their roots in childhood and adolescence, health care professionals say. A traumatic event in childhood may have lifelong consequences, leading to depression, anxiety, eating disorders or other conditions. Disorders that are thought to have a biological or genetic component, ranging from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to manic-depressive disorder, which is also known as bipolar disorder, may manifest themselves before adulthood.

Thus, childhood and adolescence may be a time to diagnose problems and begin treatment. Tom Ollendick, a professor of psychology at Virginia Tech, says such conditions need not have a long-lasting, negative outcome.

Often, Ollendick said, the best thing parents can do is talk to their children, and listen to them, and believe and support them.

Children may be like clean slates, Ollendick said, but they are also like saplings: resilient, adaptable, and not necessarily passive recipients of outside stimuli. They often can handle negative events.

Still, sometimes a good talk with someone older can be just the thing to make problems seem smaller. But Ollendick has a warning. Parents shouldn't be too supportive, or too ready to brush aside childhood worries and problems.

"As important as talking is, listening is more important."

Ollendick also said mental problems can be obvious, for example when they are manifested as anti-social or inappropriate behavior. They can also be quietly internalized with little outside indications, as is the case sometimes with depression and anxiety. So parents have to be vigilant.

Professional help can provide relief. A good place for parents to start is their family doctor. If you don't have a family doctor, Raft Community Crisis Center, with offices in many of the New River Valley's communities, can help.