Tim Truschel, a medical doctor and medical director of Evergreen Counseling Center, advises if you think a child you know is suffering from a mental disorder you should have that child go to a primary care physician for an evaluation.

Truschel said your family doctor can make the proper evaluation and referral for psychological or psychiatric help that may be needed. He said seeing a physician is the fastest and most efficient way to obtain the help needed for a child who may be suffering from a mental problem. He cautions that people need to be honest in telling the doctor what is happening in the young person’s life and not be embarrassed or minimize the behavior being reported.

Many childhood mental illnesses are preventable and reversible. Since a teenager succeeds in committing suicide every other day in Washington, it is imperative to seek help if there are warning signs.

Another source of help for children is the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The local DSHS office is located across from Peninsula Golf Course in north Long Beach at 25th and Highway 103.

DSHS provides the following services, according to Betty L. Johnson, casework supervisor: adoption, family reconciliation, day care, emergency foster care, long-term foster care, and child protective services.

Through the local DSHS Truschel provides in-service training for foster parents, gives seminars on such topics as brain development and the effects of psychotropic medications, meets with parents, and observes children who are being seen by DSHS case workers.