Schools and Parents must work together to improve the child’s mental health. It’s never too late to discuss about your child’s mental health and help them cope with life’s challenges.
The World Health Organization (W.H.O) defines mental health as:
“A state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
Your child’s mental health has profound effects on their adult life. Many mental health issues of adulthood are the result of childhood trauma, and if a child’s mental health is neglected during their childhood, it can turn into a crisis point.
Adulthood is meant to be the best time of one’s life – exploring and living life to the fullest, but it can also be brutal. Growing up is full of challenges, and there are many pressures young children have to deal with; from family, school, society and many more. Many children don’t even get the basic needs, while some are unfortunate enough to experience bad/ traumatic things in life such as domestic violence, irresponsible parenting, bullying, sexual abuses and many more. These traumatic events and experiences can escalate, leading to the child’s mental health disorders and can cause a major problem for a child during their adulthood.
Considering this, mental health problems are common and on the rise particularly among school children and adults. A Report by U.K Department of Health reveals that about 25% of the population experience mental health problems at some point in their lives. Furthermore the report states,- “over half of mental health problems in adult life (excluding dementia) start by the age of 14 and seventy-five per cent by age 18.”
As a result, the child’s mental health problems can become a major hindrance in reaching their full potential and making a positive contribution to society.
Although child’s mental health is an important issue, it has not been talk openly in our family and society. Many parents face issues with their child’s mental health due to lack of understanding on the topic of mental wellbeing. Moreover, some children are not getting enough attention they need from their family members, therefore there is lack of affinity and care which leads to child’s mental health problems. On the other hand, many parents are unaware of signs and behaviours that could point to a child’s mental health issues. As a result, kids don’t get enough support on time when needed. Many children show changes in their behaviour as they grow up into adolescence, that could point to mental health problems like depression and anxiety. As a parent, you should be aware of the signs of mental health issues in your child, the sooner you can spot them, the better help you can provide.
Here are some warning signs that you should be aware of your child’s mental health:
Mood
Severe mood swings that often lead to causing relationship problems at home or school. They have intense feelings of sadness or it might be feeling of withdrawal. Behavioural changes include getting aggressive or irritable towards other people. If things get bad, they tend to blame parents.
Besides, other signs include intense feeling of fear, or worries for no reason. They may have difficulty in concentrating, that may result in poor academic performance.
Action
These include changes in eating habits (eating disorders) and sleeping patterns. This behavioural changes may lead to loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss.
Sometimes mental health disorders leads to physical harm and substance abuse. This leads to self harm, such as cutting or burning own body parts. Besides, some kids start using drugs or alcohol to cope with their feelings. Other changes include developing suicidal thoughts or it may be suicide attempt.
Social
Social changes include losing interest in people, and withdrawn from friends circle. They may start getting in trouble with other people, engage in fighting or it might be using weapons with a desire to hurt other people.
They appear lonely and easily getting bored. Besides, other signs include losing interest in doing things and study, and it may lead to poor performance in schools or missing schools.
If you are really concerned about your child’s mental health, have a conversation and keep on listening to your child’s problems. Parents should discuss about a child’s mental health, and what’s happening in their daily life. If you have noticed any abnormal changes in behaviour, habits or actions, consult with your child’s doctor.
Read here about parenting tips to improve your child’s mental health.
Schools and parents have a crucial role, and they should be working together to improve the overall child’s mental health. At Samriddhi School, we are concerned about the mental health of our students, that’s why we provide personal counselling services when needed. With the consent of parents, we provide guidance from experts and helping them to develop their ability to cope with their temporary and long-term difficulties. We, one of the best schools in Kathmandu, are committed to inspire and motivate students to achieve the highest standards of intellectual development as well as personal growth, through a stimulating and comprehensive STEAM educational programme.
For more information about our school in Kathmandu, please visit our website or Contact us– 014390590/ 4383777.