Characteristics of a mood disorder

If a child or youth has a mood disorder, their general mood does not fit with or is more extreme than people would expect from their situation. The most common mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder.

Some signs of mood disorders that you might notice in your child/youth are:

  • sleep problems (can’t sleep or sleeps too much)
  • low or depressed mood
  • major irritability
  • major mood swings
  • extreme anger or rages
  • difficulty planning
  • difficulty concentrating
  • poor judgement
  • talking or hinting about suicide (suicidal ideation)

Having an untreated mood disorder can affect family relationships and school performance.

Characteristics of an anxiety disorder

All children and youth experience some anxiety at different stages. This is a normal part of growth and development. When a child’s or youth's ability to participate in or perform everyday activities becomes excessively and persistently distressing, and their ability to function is affected, professional help is required.

Untreated anxiety symptoms in children and youth may result in more serious problems such as academic and social challenges. Anxiety symptoms include:

  • recurring fear and worries that are developmentally below what is expected
  • changes or a decrease in daily activities
  • avoiding school or social situations
  • sleep difficulties and mood changes
  • chronic physical complaints such as fatigue, stomach aches and headaches

The most common anxiety conditions or disorders include:

  • separation anxiety
  • generalized anxiety
  • social anxiety
  • panic attacks or Panic Disorder

About the Mood and Anxiety Clinic

The Mood and Anxiety Clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic assessment and consultation services for children and youth with complex symptoms that suggest a mood and/or anxiety disorder.

The Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) team consults with community partners and develops a treatment and safety plan for your child. Services might include:

  • psychoeducation for your child or youth
  • appointments with a psychiatrist to determine medications and for treatment
  • consulting with your child’s school
  • parent education
  • support from other clinicians as needed

CPRI do not do risk assessments, emergency or crisis intervention or parent or custody assessments.

Eligibility

Mood and Anxiety Clinic provides services for children and youth up to age 18 focused primarily around the assessment of mood and related disorders (bipolar disorder, depression, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder) and/or anxiety disorders.

Generally, local services available to support a child/youth in their home community are accessed first before a referral to Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) is considered. This may include a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or a child & youth mental health/developmental service provider.

How to access services

You can submit an outpatient referral form for this service if you are:

  • the child or youth’s parent
  • the child or youth in need of service
  • a member of the child or youth’s care team (such as doctor, community agency, school, etc.) with the consent of the child or youth, parent/guardian or substitute decision maker

In some communities, outpatient referrals are processed through your local Single Point Access Mechanism.

All referral forms must be signed by the child or youth’s doctor.

Learn more about the referral process and access referral forms.

Where appointments are held

Assessments may be completed at CPRI, virtually, and/or at your child’s or youth’s home or school. The best place for appointments is decided based on your child’s, youth’s and family's needs and circumstances. At the end of service we will work with community partners to transition your child or youth back to services available in the community where they live.