Childhood and adolescence are the building block years that set the stage for adult relationships and behaviours. Every child needs a healthy mind to develop properly, build solid relationships, effectively adapt to change and deal with life’s challenges.
Child and adolescent mental health involves the mental health challenges encountered during these life periods and the supportive therapies which help to create and develop cognitive, emotional and social skills that help shape the mental health of these children and adolescents. This ensures an all-round integration into the roles and responsibilities in adulthood which further creates a better mental health for the society.
Studies have shown that adverse childhood experiences like violence, abuse or neglect, divorce, growing up in a household with substance misuse, mental health problems can negatively interfere with a child’s health and general well-being. According to WHO, half of all mental disorders occur before the age of 14.
Supporting and guiding our children and adolescents through these challenging periods allows you to positively impact on their cognitive development and encourages them to build valuable and trusting relationships as they grow. It also helps to mitigate the adverse effects of harmful environmental influence.
1. Make good use of every opportunity you get to display love, care and affection.
2. Create opportunities for family bonding like family game nights, movie nights, day trips…
3. Encourage your children to speak up and be able to freely express their feelings. They need to know and feel you’re your support always. You may not always be in agreement but let them never doubt your love and support.
4. Encourage and teach them how to tackle problems and not allow things to pile up, which could increase emotional stress.
5. Build a strong support network with trusted family members, friends, other parents and teachers. If further help or clarification is required, you can speak with counsellors or qualified mental health professionals.
6. Encourage physical activities like cycling, running, jogging, football, swimming… Staying active promotes a healthier lifestyle, improves the immune system and helps to develop good stress management skills.
7. Encourage healthy eating habits and create healthy meal options rich in fruits and vegetables.
8. Encourage good sleep habits. A good sleep hygiene is essential to developing brains.
9. Teach your children to avoid alcohol and other harmful drugs. Early exposure to alcohol damages the developing brain. Early substance has been shown to distort brain morphology which in turn gives rise to different psychological disturbances.
10. Indicate interest and participate in events and activities in your child’s life. Praise your child’s efforts as well as their good points and achievements and show that you value their ideas and opinions.
Alcohol and substance use pose a major threat to teenage mental health problems. You should encourage your child to avoid drugs, and do not allow them access to alcohol until they’re 18 years old. If you discover your child is using alcohol or other drugs, have a talk with your child and also consider speaking to a health professional or counsellor.
Children and teenagers sometimes have low moods, poor motivation and difficulty sleeping. These are usually normal and aren’t always the signs of a mental health problem. But if you notice any of the following signs and observe that they go on for more than a few weeks, it is important to talk with your child. The next step is to get professional help. These signs include: being sad all the time, disinterest in school or a drop in school performance, excessive worries or fears, low energy, loss of appetite or being picky with food, always getting into trouble at school, always aggressive or consistently disobedient or repeated temper tantrums, experiences sleep problems, including nightmares. Also if you discover your child is thinking about self-harm or suicide, seek urgent professional help. Reaffirm your love and support and encourage them to speak freely with you.
If you feel your child is experiencing any emotional or psychological challenge, start by talking with your child. Having a discussion with them about their feelings will help show them you care. It will also help you know when to get professional help.
