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Best Mental Health Apps for Kids: Parent Guide 2026

best mental health apps for kids

The best mental health apps for kids can help children practice mindfulness, manage everyday stress, recognize emotions, and build healthy coping skills, but they should not be treated as a replacement for professional mental health care. The right app depends on a child’s age, needs, developmental level, privacy considerations, and the amount of parent or caregiver involvement available.

Parents looking for digital support may encounter apps for breathing exercises, guided mindfulness, relaxation, mood tracking, emotional education, anxiety management, and sleep. These tools can make certain mental health skills easier to practice at home, particularly when an app is designed specifically for children rather than simply adapting an adult-focused program.

However, an appealing design or high app-store rating does not necessarily mean an app has been clinically evaluated. Parents should also consider what information the app collects, how children’s data is handled, whether its recommended age matches their child’s developmental level, and whether its claims are supported by credible evidence.

This guide builds on our broader resource about the best apps for mental health and focuses specifically on tools intended for children. It explains what different types of apps can and cannot do, what parents should check before allowing a child to use one, and when digital support may not be enough.

For children experiencing persistent emotional or behavioral difficulties, an app should be viewed as one possible support tool rather than a diagnostic or treatment service. A pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or other qualified mental health professional can help determine whether a child’s symptoms require further assessment or care.

best mental health apps for kids

What Are Mental Health Apps for Kids?

Mental health apps for kids are digital tools designed to support skills such as emotional awareness, mindfulness, relaxation, stress management, and healthy coping. Some provide guided breathing or meditation, while others use games, stories, activities, or mood-tracking features to make these skills easier for children to practice.

These apps generally fall into two broad groups. Wellness-focused apps may help a child learn calming techniques or recognize emotions, while apps based on therapeutic approaches may incorporate techniques associated with interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Using a technique from therapy does not mean the app itself provides therapy or has been proven to treat a specific mental health condition.

Age and developmental level also matter. Younger children may benefit from simple activities that involve a parent or caregiver, while older children may be able to use more independent tools for managing stress or understanding emotions. An app designed for adults or teenagers should not automatically be assumed to be appropriate for a younger child.

Parents should also consider what role the app is intended to play. A child who occasionally needs help calming down may use a mindfulness or breathing activity as a coping tool. A child experiencing persistent anxiety, sadness, behavioral changes, problems at school, or significant difficulty functioning may need a professional evaluation rather than relying on an app alone.

The American Psychological Association recommends considering factors such as privacy, evidence, usability, and the app’s claims when evaluating mental health apps. These considerations are particularly relevant when choosing a digital tool for a child, because parents are making the decision on the child’s behalf.

best mental health apps for kids

Best Mental Health Apps for Kids

The best mental health apps for kids depend on the child’s age, the type of support they need, and how much parent involvement the app requires. Some are designed for mindfulness and emotional awareness, while others focus on anxiety-related coping skills, relaxation, or sleep. No single app is appropriate for every child.

When comparing options, parents should look beyond app-store ratings and attractive designs. Consider the app’s stated age range, the purpose of its activities, privacy practices, evidence behind its approach, subscription costs, and whether a parent can control or review the child’s use.

App TypeBest ForTypical FeaturesParent Consideration
Mindfulness appsEmotional awareness and calmingBreathing, meditation, guided relaxationCheck age suitability
Coping-skills appsEveryday stress and difficult emotionsCoping exercises, activities, emotional educationLook for developmentally appropriate content
Anxiety-support appsWorry and stress managementRelaxation, thought exercises, grounding activitiesNot a substitute for anxiety assessment
Sleep-support appsBedtime relaxationStories, calming sounds, guided exercisesConsider screen use before bedtime
Mood-tracking appsRecognizing emotional patternsMood logs, journaling, check-insReview privacy and data practices

For younger children, an app may work best when a parent or caregiver participates rather than leaving the child to use it independently. Activities such as breathing exercises, identifying emotions, or practicing relaxation can become more meaningful when an adult helps the child understand when and why to use them.

Older children may be able to use more independent tools, but supervision can still be appropriate. Parents should understand what the app does, what information it collects, and whether it includes communication, social, or other features that could introduce additional concerns.

An app’s therapeutic language also deserves careful attention. An app may incorporate CBT-based exercises or mindfulness techniques without having evidence that the specific product treats a mental health disorder. Parents should distinguish between supporting a coping skill and treating a clinical condition.

The options below should therefore be evaluated according to their intended purpose, age suitability, evidence, privacy practices, and limitations rather than simply being treated as a universal ranking.

best mental health apps for kids

Best Mental Health Apps for Kids

The most suitable app depends on what a child needs support with, their age, and whether a parent or caregiver will participate. The categories below can help families compare options without assuming that every app has the same purpose or level of clinical evidence.

Best for Mindfulness and Emotional Awareness

Mindfulness-focused apps can teach children simple practices for paying attention to their breathing, thoughts, feelings, or surroundings. For some children, short guided exercises may be useful for learning how to pause and recognize emotions before reacting.

Look for programs with child-appropriate language, brief activities, and clear instructions. Younger children may benefit more from interactive exercises or activities completed alongside an adult than from longer, independent meditation sessions.

Best for Anxiety and Coping Skills

Apps that teach coping skills may offer breathing exercises, grounding activities, relaxation techniques, or structured exercises for responding to stressful thoughts and emotions. These tools can give children practical strategies to try during everyday moments of worry or frustration.

Parents should be cautious about apps that promise to treat an anxiety disorder without professional involvement. A child with persistent or severe anxiety may need an assessment from a qualified mental health professional rather than relying on self-guided digital exercises.

Best for Sleep and Relaxation

Sleep-focused tools may provide calming stories, relaxation exercises, breathing activities, or other content intended to create a quieter bedtime routine. They may be useful when the goal is relaxation rather than treatment of an underlying mental health condition.

Parents should consider how and when the child uses the device. If an app keeps a child engaged with a screen immediately before bedtime, its overall usefulness may be limited even if the content itself is calming.

Best Options for Older Children and Teens

Older children and teenagers may be able to use apps that involve more independent reflection, mood check-ins, journaling, or structured coping exercises. However, parents should still verify the minimum age, privacy practices, and features before allowing independent use.

The distinction between a children’s app and an adolescent mental health tool matters because emotional development, reading ability, independence, and privacy expectations can vary substantially across age groups. An app intended for teenagers should not automatically be presented as suitable for younger children.

best mental health apps for kids

How to Choose a Mental Health App for Your Child

Choosing a mental health app for a child requires more than looking at its rating or number of downloads. Parents should consider whether the app is appropriate for the child’s age, what type of support it provides, how it handles personal information, and whether its claims are supported by credible evidence.

Use the following factors when evaluating an app:

1. Check the Recommended Age

Start with the app’s stated age range and consider whether the content matches your child’s developmental level. An app designed for teenagers may use language, activities, or independent decision-making that is not appropriate for a younger child.

For younger children, prioritize simple activities, clear instructions, and options that allow a parent or caregiver to participate.

2. Identify the App’s Purpose

Be specific about what you want the app to help with. Different tools may focus on mindfulness, emotional awareness, relaxation, sleep, stress management, or coping skills.

For example, an app designed primarily for breathing exercises may be useful as a calming tool but may not be appropriate if you’re looking for structured support for persistent anxiety.

3. Look for Evidence and Clinical Credibility

Pay attention to what the app actually claims to do. An app that uses terms such as CBT, mindfulness, or behavioral techniques is not automatically a clinically validated treatment.

Parents should distinguish between:

  • Evidence supporting the underlying technique
  • Evidence supporting the specific app
  • Claims made by the app developer
  • Professional or clinical involvement in the app’s development

This distinction can help prevent families from assuming that an attractive or professionally worded app has been proven to treat a mental health disorder.

4. Review Privacy and Data Practices

Privacy is especially important when an app is being used by a child. Before creating an account or entering information, review what data the app collects, why it collects it, whether information is shared with third parties, and how parents can manage or delete the child’s data.

Be particularly cautious with apps that request unnecessary personal information, collect detailed mood or behavioral information, or include social and communication features that are unrelated to the app’s primary purpose.

5. Consider Parent Involvement

Some apps are designed for independent use, while others work better when a parent or caregiver participates. For younger children, shared use can help parents understand the exercises and reinforce healthy coping strategies outside the app.

Even when an app allows independent use, parents should know what the child is doing and periodically review whether the tool remains useful and appropriate.

6. Compare the Cost

Check whether the app is genuinely free or uses subscriptions, locked features, free trials, or in-app purchases. A low-cost or free app is not necessarily better, and a paid app is not necessarily more effective.

Look at the features available without payment and determine whether the ongoing cost provides meaningful value for your child’s needs.

7. Check Safety and Limitations

A mental health app should clearly communicate what it can and cannot do. Avoid treating an app as a replacement for professional care when a child has persistent symptoms, significant impairment, or a safety concern.

If an app includes crisis information or emergency resources, verify that those resources are appropriate for your location and circumstances.

Quick Parent Checklist

Before choosing an app, ask:

  • Is it appropriate for my child’s age and developmental level?
  • What specific problem or skill does it address?
  • Is there credible evidence behind its approach?
  • Does evidence support the specific app, or only the technique it uses?
  • What personal or mental health information does it collect?
  • Can I understand or manage my child’s use of the app?
  • Does it contain subscriptions or in-app purchases?
  • Does it clearly explain its limitations?
  • Would my child benefit more from speaking with a mental health professional?

The goal is not simply to find the app with the highest rating. It is to find a tool that fits the child’s developmental needs, provides an appropriate type of support, protects their privacy, and has realistic expectations about what digital mental health tools can accomplish.


Are Mental Health Apps Safe for Children?

Mental health apps can be useful tools for teaching children coping, relaxation, mindfulness, and emotional-awareness skills, but parents should evaluate them carefully before allowing a child to use one independently. The fact that an app is available in an app store does not automatically mean it is appropriate, clinically validated, or designed with children’s privacy needs in mind.

Privacy and Data Collection

Children’s mental health information can be particularly sensitive. Before using an app, review its privacy policy and determine what information it collects, how that information is used, and whether it is shared with third parties.

Pay attention to whether the app requests:

  • Mood or symptom information
  • Personal identifying information
  • Location data
  • Behavioral information
  • Account or profile information
  • Access to device features that are not necessary for the app

Parents should avoid entering unnecessary sensitive information and should understand how the child’s data can be accessed, stored, or deleted.

Watch for Unverified Mental Health Claims

Parents should be cautious when an app makes strong claims about diagnosing, preventing, or treating mental health conditions.

An app might describe itself as “CBT-based” or use techniques associated with established psychological approaches. That does not necessarily mean the specific app has been clinically tested or shown to treat a disorder.

A better question is:

What evidence supports this specific app, and what exactly has been evaluated?

This distinction is important when choosing digital tools for children because an app can be useful for practicing a particular skill without functioning as a clinical treatment.

Consider Screen-Time and Engagement

A mental health app can create a potential contradiction: the child may be using a screen to learn relaxation while also spending additional time on a device.

Parents should consider whether the activity is short and purposeful or encourages prolonged engagement. For bedtime-focused apps, this is particularly important because using a device immediately before sleep may not fit every child’s bedtime routine.

Where possible, choose tools that encourage the child to practice skills away from the screen, such as breathing, relaxation, emotional identification, or other coping exercises.

Parent Supervision Can Add a Layer of Safety

Younger children may benefit from using mental health apps with a parent or caregiver. Shared use allows an adult to explain activities, answer questions, and recognize whether the child is becoming frustrated or distressed.

Parents should also periodically check:

  • What activities the child is completing
  • Whether the content remains age-appropriate
  • Whether new features or subscriptions have been introduced
  • Whether the child is relying on the app excessively
  • Whether the app appears to be helping with the intended goal

Supervision does not mean monitoring every interaction indefinitely. The appropriate level of involvement depends on the child’s age, maturity, the app’s features, and the reason it is being used.

Apps Should Not Be Used for Crisis Situations

A mental health app should never be treated as an emergency response system.

If a child talks about suicide, self-harm, harming another person, or appears to be in immediate danger, parents should seek appropriate emergency or crisis support rather than directing the child to an app.

For broader guidance about warning signs, children’s mental health, and when professional evaluation may be appropriate, parents can consult the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) guidance on child and adolescent mental health.

Ultimately, the safest approach is to treat a mental health app as one potential support tool—not a replacement for parental support, professional evaluation, or treatment when those are needed.


Can Mental Health Apps Replace Therapy for Kids?

Mental health apps can complement a child’s mental health care, but they generally should not be treated as a replacement for professional evaluation or therapy. An app can provide exercises for mindfulness, relaxation, emotional awareness, or coping skills, while a mental health professional can assess the child’s individual circumstances and determine whether treatment is needed.

What Mental Health Apps Can Help With

For some children, an appropriate app may provide a convenient way to practice skills between conversations with parents, caregivers, teachers, or mental health professionals.

Depending on the app, these tools may help children:

  • Practice breathing and relaxation techniques
  • Recognize and label emotions
  • Learn basic coping strategies
  • Practice mindfulness
  • Develop healthier responses to everyday stress
  • Establish relaxing bedtime routines
  • Reflect on moods or emotions

These activities can be useful additions to a child’s broader support system, particularly when they are simple, age-appropriate, and used consistently.

What an App Cannot Replace

A mental health app cannot provide the same individualized assessment and professional judgment as a qualified clinician.

A mental health professional can consider factors such as the child’s symptoms, developmental stage, family circumstances, school functioning, behavior, and relationships. They can also determine whether symptoms may be associated with anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, sleep difficulties, or another concern requiring further evaluation.

An app also cannot reliably respond to every situation a child may encounter. A child may need a different type of intervention than the app provides, or their symptoms may require treatment that goes beyond self-guided exercises.

Apps Can Complement Professional Treatment

For a child who is already receiving professional care, an appropriate digital tool may sometimes support skills being practiced outside appointments.

For example, a child working on relaxation strategies might use a guided breathing exercise at home. Another child may use an emotion-identification activity to become more comfortable describing feelings.

The key is to view the app as a supporting tool rather than the treatment itself.

Parents can also discuss the app with their child’s mental health professional. This can help determine whether the activities are appropriate for the child’s particular needs and whether using the app supports the goals of their care.

When an App May Not Be Enough

Parents should consider professional guidance when a child’s emotional or behavioral difficulties are persistent, becoming more severe, or interfering with everyday life.

Signs that additional support may be appropriate can include:

  • Persistent sadness or irritability
  • Excessive or ongoing worry
  • Major changes in sleep or behavior
  • Withdrawal from family or friends
  • Significant difficulty concentrating
  • Problems functioning at home or school
  • Frequent or severe emotional outbursts
  • Behaviors that cause concern for the child’s safety

In these situations, continuing to use an app without seeking professional guidance could delay the support the child actually needs.

The Bottom Line

Mental health apps can be useful for practicing healthy coping and emotional-wellness skills, but they should not be presented as a substitute for therapy or a professional mental health evaluation.

For parents, the best approach is to consider what the app is realistically capable of, involve an appropriate adult when needed, and seek professional help when a child’s symptoms are persistent, severe, or interfering with daily functioning.


When Should a Child See a Mental Health Professional?

Not every change in a child’s mood or behavior means they have a mental health disorder. Children can experience temporary worry, sadness, frustration, sleep changes, and emotional outbursts as part of normal development.

The more important question is whether the changes are persistent, severe, or interfering with the child’s everyday life.

Parents may want to speak with a pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor, or another qualified mental health professional when concerns continue or begin affecting the child’s ability to function at home, at school, or with friends.

Persistent Changes in Mood or Behavior

Consider seeking professional guidance if you notice ongoing changes such as:

  • Persistent sadness or irritability
  • Frequent emotional outbursts that are difficult to manage
  • Excessive or persistent worry
  • Increasing social withdrawal
  • Significant changes in eating or sleeping
  • Loss of interest in activities the child normally enjoys
  • Ongoing difficulty concentrating
  • A noticeable decline in school performance
  • Repeated complaints of physical symptoms without an obvious explanation
  • Behavior that is substantially different from the child’s usual patterns

One isolated difficult day generally does not provide enough information to determine whether professional help is needed. Patterns that continue, worsen, or interfere with daily functioning deserve more attention.

When Anxiety or Stress Interferes With Daily Life

Some children experience occasional fears or worries. However, professional support may be appropriate when anxiety becomes difficult for the child to manage or begins preventing them from participating in normal activities.

For example, a child may increasingly avoid school, social activities, sleeping alone, or other situations because of intense worry or fear.

In these circumstances, an app offering breathing exercises or coping strategies may still be useful, but it should not be the only form of support.

When School or Relationships Are Affected

Changes in a child’s mental health can sometimes become noticeable through their relationships or school behavior.

Parents may want to seek guidance if a child is consistently struggling with:

  • Attending or participating in school
  • Completing normal schoolwork
  • Maintaining friendships
  • Interacting with family members
  • Controlling emotions or behavior
  • Participating in activities they previously enjoyed

Teachers, school counselors, pediatricians, and caregivers can sometimes provide additional observations that help parents understand whether a pattern is developing.

When a Child Talks About Self-Harm or Suicide

Any mention of self-harm, suicide, or wanting to die should be taken seriously.

Parents should not rely on a mental health app to manage a potential crisis. If a child appears to be in immediate danger or may hurt themselves or someone else, seek emergency or crisis assistance immediately.

For non-emergency concerns, a qualified mental health professional can help determine the appropriate level of evaluation and support.

Start With the Right Professional

Parents do not necessarily need to determine the diagnosis or type of treatment before asking for help. A pediatrician or primary-care provider can be a useful starting point and may recommend an appropriate mental health professional.

Depending on the child’s needs, professional support may involve psychotherapy, behavioral interventions, family support, or other forms of treatment.

Mental Health Apps Have a Supporting Role

A mental health app can be a convenient way for a child to practice mindfulness, relaxation, emotional awareness, or coping skills. But when symptoms are persistent, severe, or affecting daily functioning, professional evaluation should take priority over relying on an app alone.

The goal is not to avoid digital tools altogether. Instead, parents should use them in the right context— as optional support for everyday emotional skills and, when appropriate, as a complement to professional care.


Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Mental Health App for Your Child

The best mental health app for a child is not necessarily the one with the highest rating, the most features, or the most impressive clinical language. The right choice depends on the child’s age, needs, level of independence, and the type of support the app is actually designed to provide.

For everyday emotional wellness, a suitable app may help a child practice mindfulness, breathing, relaxation, emotional awareness, or healthy coping skills. Parents can make these tools more useful by participating when appropriate and encouraging children to apply what they learn away from the screen.

Before choosing an app, review its:

  • Recommended age range
  • Primary purpose and features
  • Evidence and clinical credibility
  • Privacy and data-collection practices
  • Parent or caregiver controls
  • Subscription and in-app purchase requirements
  • Screen-time demands
  • Safety information and limitations

It is also important to keep the bigger picture in mind. A child’s mental health is influenced by relationships, family support, school experiences, sleep, physical health, and their broader environment. An app can support some aspects of emotional well-being, but it cannot replace those foundations or provide individualized professional care.

Parents who are also looking for mental health tools for themselves may find our guide to best mental health apps for overwhelmed moms useful when building a broader family wellness routine. Similarly, our guide to best mental health apps for men covers options designed around the needs of another specific audience.

For a broader overview of digital mental health tools, see our best apps for mental health guide.

Ultimately, mental health apps should be viewed as supportive tools rather than automatic solutions. When a child is experiencing persistent or worsening emotional, behavioral, or psychological difficulties, parents should prioritize appropriate professional guidance. The goal is to choose technology that adds genuine value while keeping the child’s safety, privacy, and overall well-being at the center of the decision.


Conclusion

Mental health apps can be useful tools for helping children practice mindfulness, relaxation, emotional awareness, and healthy coping skills. However, the best app for one child may not be the right choice for another.

Before choosing an app, parents should consider the child’s age, the purpose of the app, evidence supporting its approach, privacy practices, parental involvement, cost, and safety features. Parents should also distinguish between an app that teaches a useful mental health skill and one that has actually been evaluated as a treatment for a specific condition.

Most importantly, an app should complement—not replace—support from parents, caregivers, schools, pediatricians, and qualified mental health professionals. If emotional or behavioral concerns persist for weeks or months, cause significant distress, or interfere with functioning at home, school, or with friends, professional evaluation may be appropriate.

For children experiencing an immediate safety concern, including thoughts of suicide or self-harm, parents should seek immediate professional or emergency support rather than relying on a mental health app.

The right digital tool should make healthy coping skills more accessible while keeping the child’s safety, privacy, development, and overall well-being at the center of the decision.


Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best mental health apps for kids?

The best mental health app depends on the child’s age and the type of support needed. Parents may consider apps focused on mindfulness, emotional awareness, relaxation, anxiety-related coping skills, or sleep. Before choosing one, check its age range, privacy practices, evidence, parental controls, cost, and limitations.

Are mental health apps safe for children?

Some mental health apps may be appropriate for children, but parents should evaluate them individually. Important considerations include privacy and data collection, age suitability, evidence supporting the app’s claims, parental involvement, advertising, subscriptions, and whether the app includes potentially inappropriate social or communication features. Mental health apps can vary considerably in privacy protections and clinical evaluation.

What is the best app for kids with anxiety?

There is no single app that is best for every child with anxiety. Some apps may teach breathing, relaxation, grounding, mindfulness, or other coping skills. However, an app should not be considered a replacement for an evaluation when anxiety is persistent, severe, or interfering with school, relationships, sleep, or everyday activities.

Are there free mental health apps for kids?

Some mental health and wellness apps offer free activities or limited free versions, while others use subscriptions or in-app purchases. Parents should compare what is included in the free version, whether payment is required for essential features, and what personal information is requested before signing up.

Can mental health apps help children with anxiety?

They may help some children practice coping or relaxation skills, depending on the app and the child’s needs. However, evidence for a general mental health technique does not automatically establish that a particular app is an effective treatment. Parents should distinguish between an app that is evidence-informed and a specific product that has been clinically evaluated.

What should parents look for in a mental health app?

Parents should look at the app’s recommended age, purpose, evidence, privacy policy, data practices, safety features, parent involvement, cost, and limitations. It is also useful to check whether qualified mental health professionals were involved in development or evaluation and whether the app makes realistic claims about what it can provide.

Can a mental health app replace therapy for a child?

No. Mental health apps can complement professional care by giving children opportunities to practice skills such as relaxation or emotional awareness, but they cannot provide the individualized assessment and clinical judgment of a qualified mental health professional.

What age are mental health apps appropriate for?

There is no universal age at which mental health apps become appropriate. Each app has its own recommended age range and features. Parents should consider both the stated age requirement and whether the content, language, privacy settings, and level of independence are developmentally appropriate for their child.

Should parents monitor their child’s mental health app?

Parents should generally understand how their child is using a mental health app, particularly with younger children. The appropriate level of involvement depends on the child’s age, maturity, the app’s features, and why it is being used. Parents should review privacy settings and be aware of features involving communication, data collection, subscriptions, or external content.

When should a child see a mental health professional?

Parents should consider professional evaluation when emotional or behavioral symptoms persist for weeks or longer, cause significant distress, or interfere with functioning at home, school, or with friends. Warning signs can include persistent worry or sadness, major changes in sleep or behavior, social withdrawal, declining school performance, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide.

If a child talks about wanting to hurt themselves or someone else, or appears to be in immediate danger, seek immediate help rather than relying on an app. In the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988; life-threatening emergencies require emergency services.


Call to Action

If you are concerned about your child’s emotional or behavioral health, an app can be one small part of a broader support plan. Start by choosing tools carefully, protecting your child’s privacy, and paying attention to changes in mood, behavior, sleep, school performance, and relationships.

If concerns persist or interfere with your child’s daily life, consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional who can help determine what kind of support is appropriate.


Medical Disclosure

Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Mental health apps may provide supportive tools for mindfulness, relaxation, emotional awareness, and coping, but their availability or use does not mean they are clinically proven to diagnose or treat a mental health condition.

Every child is different. Parents and caregivers should consult a qualified pediatrician or mental health professional for concerns about a child’s emotional, behavioral, or psychological health. Do not delay professional care because of information presented in this article or because a child is using a mental health app.

If a child is in immediate danger, has seriously harmed themselves, or is experiencing an urgent mental health crisis, seek emergency assistance immediately.


References

  1. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Guidance on children’s mental health, warning signs, professional evaluation, and immediate help.
  2. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage? Information on distinguishing typical developmental behavior from concerns that may require professional evaluation.
  3. American Psychological Association (APA). How psychologists can spot red flags in mental health apps. Guidance concerning evidence, privacy, clinical claims, regulation, and evaluation of mental health apps.
  4. American Psychological Association (APA). Health Advisory on the Use of Generative AI Chatbots and Wellness Applications for Mental Health. Guidance concerning privacy, sensitive data, and appropriate use of digital mental health tools, including considerations for children and adolescents.
  5. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Youth. Crisis-support information and resources for young people experiencing mental health or suicide-related concerns.

About the Author

Dr. Gloria Fosu, board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner

Dr. Gloria Fosu

DNP, PMHNP‑BC, FNP‑C, RN‑BC

Founder of Arthur Behavioral Healthcare — a trusted mental health clinic in Laurel, MD. Dr. Fosu specializes in psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and therapy for adults across Prince George’s County and Baltimore City.