Mental and Behavioral Health

Mental health conditions don’t just affect adults; children and teenagers are also at risk. Nearly 50% of teens will have a mental health disorder. At Merritt Pediatrics in San Antonio, Texas, board-certified pediatrician Christina Merritt, MD, offers mental and behavioral health services to kids and teenagers to ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Schedule a mental and behavioral health evaluation by phone or request one online today.

What are mental and behavioral health care services?

Mental and behavioral health services at Merritt Pediatrics include mental health evaluations, medication management, therapy, and other treatments that restore a child’s mental well-being. Dr. Merritt personalizes a plan to treat children beginning at age 11 and offers treatments that enhance their mood, overall mental health, and quality of life.

Which conditions do mental and behavioral health services address?

Merritt Pediatrics diagnoses and treats the following mental health challenges in pediatric populations:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Substance use disorder
• Eating disorders
• Grief
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and pica are examples of eating disorders some kids and teenagers face. Depression and anxiety are widespread.

What are the risk factors for mental and behavioral health disorders?

While the exact cause might not be entirely clear, risk factors for mental health disorders in kids include:

• Family history of mental health disorders
• Ongoing stress
• Having few or no friends
• Low self-esteem
• Getting bullied
• Mental, physical, or emotional abuse or trauma
• Loss of a loved one
• Hormonal changes
• Pressures of fitting in

Dr. Merritt helps determine the cause of your child’s mental health disorder and how best to treat it based on its severity and symptoms and the desired outcome.

How are mental and behavioral health conditions diagnosed?

Dr. Merritt meets with your child to discuss their mental health. She completes a psychiatric evaluation, asking about their mood, emotions, behavior patterns, and thoughts. She also gathers input from family members, teachers, and other professionals to develop an effective personalized treatment plan.

How are mental and behavioral health disorders treated?

Treating mental and behavioral health disorders at Merritt Pediatrics can involve one or more of the following:

• Medication management
• Therapy
• Healthy lifestyle changes
• Establishing a routine

Dr. Merritt could suggest your child attend therapy sessions weekly or as needed and take medication to boost their mood, help them rediscover joy, control anger and mood swings, feel less anxious, or focus better at school.

Dr. Merritt follows up to ensure a successful outcome. She’s available during and after office hours to address questions or concerns.

Schedule a mental and behavioral health evaluation at Merritt Pediatrics by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.