Help for Families

If a child in your home or in your life is struggling with a developmental, behavioral, emotional or mental illness, remember that most mental disorders are identifiable and treatable!

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's award winning website (www.aacap.org) is accessed daily by more than 6,000 parents and family members looking for answers on when, where and how to find help. Here are some FREE resources available to the public via our website:

Facts for Families

The Facts for Families are 93 easy-to-read and understand fact sheets on what's normal, what's not, and when to seek help for behavioral, mental or developmental disorders that affect young people. Topics include: teen suicide; childhood depression; ADHD; autism; bulimia; anorexia; bipolar disorder; children and TV violence; obsessive compulsive disorder; talking to children about terrorism and war; anxiety; bullying; and much more.
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Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder

Choosing a child and adolescent psychiatrist is a big decision. Often it is difficult to know when to seek help. Once you have decided to find treatment it can be hard to know where to find it. The Academy's Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder can help you find an AACAP member doctor in or near your community.
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Your Child

Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Development from Infancy Through Pre-Adolescence

Written by members of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the nation's leading authority on child and adolescent psychiatry, Your Child is the most comprehensive, authoritative, and parent-friendly guide to a child's development. This invaluable book is designed to provide guidance for parents in their day-to-day interactions with their child.
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Your Adolescent

Emotional, Behavioral, and Cognitive Development from Early Adolescence Through the Teen Years

The second volume of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's (AACAP) parenting guide, Your Adolescent, discusses specific questions and concerns, examines troublesome problems, and helps parents understand and respond to the day-to-day challenges of the teen years.
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Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ: Spiked, and Hyped but Not for Kids

AACAP Television and Media Committee Chair and Children’s media expert, Dr. Michael Brody reviews “The Passion” and gives his insight into whether the film is appropriate viewing for children.

Click here for a review of the movie.
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Guidelines for Gift Giving

Confused about what kind of gifts to buy a child? Is an interactive computer toy a good choice to encourage healthy development? Or what about blocks or dolls? Dr. Michael Brody, Chair of AACAP's Television and Media Committee, offers some helpful tips on gift giving throughout the year.
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DotCom Kids and the Demise of Frustration Tolerance

Is there a link between technology, instant gratification, poor frustration tolerance, lack of empathy and aggression in children? Dr. Marilyn Benoit, immediate past president of AACAP, offers a thoughtful article on the importance of being mindful of some of the negative impacts of our new technologies.
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