Reactive attachment disorder: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Seek urgent help through local child-protection or emergency services if:

   • A child may be experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, or unsafe restraint
   • The child has been abandoned or does not have a safe caregiver
   • There is an immediate risk of serious harm to the child or another person
   • The child expresses an intention to die or seriously injure themselves

   Call emergency services for serious injury, loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulty, poisoning, or any immediate life-threatening situation.

   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Prompt professional review is appropriate if behaviour changes suddenly, the child stops engaging in usual activities, or there are concerns about depression, trauma, developmental delay, or another condition.

   A sudden change is not typical evidence of RAD by itself and may have a different cause.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Arrange a routine assessment if a young child consistently does not seek or accept comfort from familiar caregivers, especially when there is a history of severe neglect or repeated changes in care.

   You can also seek help if relationship or emotional difficulties are affecting home life, nursery, school, or placement stability.

   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Reactive attachment disorder. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.