AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — A local family’s loss is opening a broader conversation about youth mental health and what parents should watch for when a child may be struggling.

The family of Salem Carpenter has publicly acknowledged his mental health struggles. His mother has also shared a mental health awareness ribbon on Facebook with the message “#breakthestigma.”

Carpenter’s name may already be familiar to people across the area. Earlier this year, the Lincoln County community rallied around his family during a search for the teenager.

While Carpenter’s family has chosen to speak publicly about mental health, NewsChannel 6 is not drawing any connection between those struggles and the circumstances surrounding his death.

Instead, their message raises a broader question for families: How can parents recognize when their own child may need help?

I spoke with Dr. Dale Peeples, a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Wellstar MCG Health, about the warning signs parents should pay attention to.

Peeples said emotions such as sadness and anxiety can be normal parts of growing up. The concern increases when those feelings begin interfering with a child’s everyday life.

“But when we start calling it a real problem is when it’s, you know, impairing the function in the child’s life, it’s getting in the way of things like school, friendships. You know, academics are falling behind. So when we see, children start to again, have those changes in their behavior or things that were working well or no longer working well, that’s our biggest warning sign that, there’s something serious at hand.”

Peeples said parents should pay attention when a child’s normal routines begin to change, including their performance in school, friendships or other areas that were previously going well.

Peeples said some children struggle to put their emotions into words.

As children move into adolescence, Peeples said another factor can come into play: a natural push for independence.

“You’re going to have some kids that just, you know, struggle with, you know, putting those emotions into words, into language. You see that particularly in younger kids or kids with developmental delays. But sometimes, you know, as you get a little bit older, you move into adolescence. There’s this natural process where you separate a little bit from your family or becoming independent. You’re pulling away. And with that natural, developmental state, sometimes that can make kids less, reflect or more reluctant to, to reach out and speak with their families.”

That makes regular communication especially important, Peeples said.If a parent notices a change in behavior, Peeples recommends creating an opportunity for the child to talk without immediately dismissing what they are feeling.

“So, you know, that openness that, extension of an opportunity to have a conversation followed up by validation. So, you know, then when the child starts to share what’s going on, we don’t just shut them down accidentally. We don’t just say, well, you know, that that’s just something everyone goes through or it’s not that big of a deal. You know, obviously it is a big deal to them.”

Peeples said adults may have experienced similar problems many times before, but for a child, it may be the first time they have had to work through that situation.

Peeples said navigating mental health services can be difficult for families who do not know where to begin.

He said one option is reaching out to a child’s primary care doctor, who may be able to help connect the family with additional mental health resources.

“But, you know, certainly, if you’re established with primary care, you know, your doctor’s, more than willing to help you navigate that process as well and has access to additional services.”

Peeples also said families can use their existing support networks and other mental health resource directories to identify providers.

Peeples said children can sometimes react more strongly and quickly to stressors than adults.

“You know children’s mental health is a lot more reactive than adults. Kids do have quicker responses and larger responses to stressors than adults are dealing with. You know, so having that constant communication, that openness, you know, can give you a little bit better insight into how the child’s doing and, you know, providing adequate monitoring.”

For parents, Peeples said one of the most important steps is creating an environment where children know they can talk — and where what they say will be taken seriously.

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