The summer break is a time that children anticipate with excitement. Summer is a time of freedom from school and relaxed responsibilities.

For kids who struggle with various mental health issues, however, summer can pose its own set of concerns that might need to be addressed.

For example, children who take medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the school year may have difficulty coping if they reduce or discontinue their necessary medications during the summer. This can lead to problems such as mood changes, anxiety and irritability that affect kids and parents alike.

For more than 40 years, Vista Behavioral Health has been providing comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health services. Our experienced, professional staff treats and cares for bipolar disorder, personality disorder, depression and other diagnoses.

We understand mental illness, and treat the whole individual — biological, psychological, social and spiritual. That means being truly dedicated to helping patients and their families understand their individual diagnosis and plan for recovery.

At Vista Health System, we realize that the future of our community relies upon the well-being of our children — and a vitally important part of that is their mental health. We serve younger patients with Lake County’s only Inpatient Child Psychiatry Unit.

We treat teenagers in our separate Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatry Program. Both of these units are located at Vista Medical Center West, 2615 Washington, Waukegan.

We understand the unique pressures, stresses and needs that face children and teenagers today. These two comprehensive programs provide care for children of almost any age — from elementary school through college. Our team of mental health experts is led by highly experienced, board-certified child/adolescent psychiatrists who evaluate, support and treat young patients.

Vista’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Programs provide a full range of services that include:

• Psychiatric evaluation

• On-unit school program (even during summer months)

• Individual psychotherapy

• Full inpatient treatment milieu

• Family psychotherapy

• Full aftercare planning

Contact Access for a free mental health assessment

If you have concerns about the behavioral health of your child, consider an evaluation through our Access department. It starts with a phone call to our Access Team at (847) 360-2000 to set up an appointment for a free mental health assessment. Every assessment is provided by one of our licensed, qualified, mental health professionals with support by our psychiatrists.

In an emergency situation you can always go to any of Vista’s three emergency departments — Vista Medical Center East and Vista Medical Center West, both in Waukegan, or the Vista Freestanding Emergency Center on Grand Avenue in Lindenhurst.

(Please note that any visit to the ER is subject to various charges. By calling the Access number to set up an appointment, the assessment is free.)