Some parents do not want to explain to their children that they will see a child/adolescent psychiatrist for various reasons; They state that they went for themselves and that they are friends of the psychiatrist; Or they try to portray the psychiatrist as someone from another specialty or come up with other veiled excuses. The child realizes this situation very quickly. Anger, disappointment, and resistance to the conversation often develop. Moreover, the parents become "liars" and the child's trust decreases. For this reason, the child should be explained clearly, simply and in a way that he/she can understand, why he/she goes to the child psychiatrist and what will happen there.
For example: “We cannot solve (this) problem together; We are all negatively affected by this situation (for the following reasons). If we do not solve this problem, we will be unhappy and we will encounter bigger problems (or these problems). That's why we need help. We will see a child/adolescent psychiatrist to get help. The doctor there will meet with you and us; It will be like a conversation; You won't be treated badly there. You can explain everything to the doctor correctly. You can meet him alone if you want. After meeting with us, the doctor may request some medical tests. He will then evaluate these and give us some suggestions. When we follow these suggestions, our problems will most likely decrease or disappear.”
In cases where the child or adolescent tries to resist, it is necessary to try to understand the reason for this resistance. For this, a good observation must be made and a clear conversation with the child is required. Children or adolescents do not want to go to a psychiatrist for various reasons:
“I will be given an injection there or given during treatment”
“I will be treated badly there, I will be angry, I will be ashamed”
"My secrets will be learned and shared with other people"
"Everyone will call me "crazy", I am not "crazy"
"My wishes will no longer be as much as before"
>“I'd rather play games than go there”
“No one will help me/us”
“My friends will find out and make fun of me”
“ My teacher will find out, I will be ashamed”
“Your doctor will ask If I don't know, I will be ashamed."
"If I go to me, they will start meds; drugs are harmful”
“Going to a psychiatrist is weakness”
“My brother will make fun of me”
…
Situations that create resistance to meeting in children and adolescents After learning, these distorted and unrealistic thoughts should be talked through and persuaded, precautions should be taken for possible problems and difficulties, and the benefits of going to the interview should be explained. Except for very urgent cases (such as suicidal thoughts), if the child resists, this issue should not be brought up for a while. When a problem occurs, the child should be confronted with his/her losses or problems without blaming them, and a recommendation should be made to see a psychiatrist again.
However, there are some situations where the child/adolescent should not be cooperated with. The child/adolescent should be taken to a psychiatrist urgently. These situations include the child/adolescent endangering his/her own life and/or the life of others, having suicidal thoughts or attempts, having impaired reality testing skills depending on his/her age/developmental level, hearing voices that do not exist (in reality), seeing images, producing thoughts that are messy and do not correspond to reality, and not eating. This includes situations where he does not drink, does not sleep at all, sleeps all the time, or becomes completely withdrawn.
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