Mental health is a topic that we are less perturbed by compared to physical health. When your child has flu or a sore throat, you would want to consult a doctor. But when they are upset, you will likely offer chocolate or their favorite toy to console them. Mental health matters as much as the physical counterpart does, but unfortunately receives scant attention as it is not evident. The signs are easy to miss since they may be mistaken for mood swings or random occurrences. Let us examine various layers of this topic and how we can be more supportive of their mental health.
Why are mental health issues common among children and teens?
Based on recent surveys, it is estimated that about 23.3% of school-level children and teens globally suffer from mental health issues. A major contributor is the changes that happen to the body and mind during the transition to adolescence. When it comes to children, there are a variety of reasons - genetic, psychological, or emotional factors.
What are the types of mental health issues?
There are 5 main types of issues that occur in children:
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Anxiety: This is caused by various fears and worries that they struggle to manage or overcome. Usual indications are separation anxiety, fear of specific situations, social anxiety or panic disorders.
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Depression: When sadness begins to affect day-to-day activities and your child loses interest in activities that they usually like, it could be a sign of depression. Some more symptoms to watch out for are self-injury behaviour, higher or lower appetite or sleep than usual.
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ADHD: This stands for Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder. Common factors are low self-esteem and neglect from friends and family. Signs include getting easily distracted, problem focusing and difficulty sitting in one place.
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PTSD: It stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and occurs after specific events like the death of a close one. Signs are nightmares, issues in sleeping, overthinking and loss of positive feelings.
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Behavioural disorders: These cause conduct and behaviour issues and may be of two types - conduct disorders and oppositional defiant disorder.
How to support your child’s mental health?
There are several ways in which you can help your child improve their mental health.
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Establish a routine: Having a routine can help a fair bit in managing some of these disorders. Reduce the uncertainty and stick to a to-do list to cut down on anxiety and stress in their life. For instance, you can create a routine around homework and movie night and communicate the same to them. This will help them transition seamlessly, reducing the friction that comes due to ambiguity.
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Encourage open conversations about emotions: A good way to help them manage emotions is to normalize them. Discuss all types of feelings, including negative ones and those like hopelessness that are tough to handle. Talk about your day and tough situations at work. Listening to such conversations will aid them in comprehending that life is filled with different emotions and all are equally valid. Thereby, they will work on venting and attempting to handle their emotions. This can be an effective entry point on their journey towards better mental health.
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Teach healthy coping skills: It is no exaggeration that children emulate their parents at every step. Instruct them on healthy coping skills at home by either participating in activities together or encouraging them to do so independently. Activities like painting, doodling, walking, and deep breathing can be effective in managing emotions.
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Empower your child to handle failure: Learning to handle negative emotions will be crucial in enhancing your child’s mental state. Allow them to experience the raw negative emotions like failure or disappointment, as these moments contribute to strengthening their mental health. Failure develops resilience and promotes growth, understanding, and empathy.
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Cultivate meaningful connections: Social connections are an underrated solution for reducing stress and feelings of loneliness. Encourage your child to talk to friends, elders and other family members whenever possible. Building bonds will also enhance their social skills, such as responding to non-verbal cues. Ensure that you balance online connections with real-life ones.
These are some tips that can come in handy in your quest to foster your child’s mental health. However, there may be situations when none of these work. In that case, do not hesitate to reach out for professional support in the form of a mental health counselor or therapist. They will be able to assist them in identifying the underlying cause of the issue and equipping them with the right strategies to address the same. Make it clear to your child that you are there for them, no matter what. This will help you in becoming their trusted confidante in the journey of life.
