Mental Health Awareness in Children

Children's Awareness of Mental Health. Hello, this is Dr. Ayesha. Mom, Dad, and parents, you are doing great for your kids. As parents, daily we are putting our efforts into doing great for our kids, like their health, organic food concerns, good clothes, schooling, and everyday necessities. I always talk about what's best for your health, what's nutritious, what's best for toddlers' health, and healthy food, but today I'm going to talk about mental health awareness in children. This topic is as important as healthy food is. You know every behaviour of a child, even crying or smiling, hides a world of emotions. As parents, we have to pay attention and understand every emotion of our child and try to find out what's going on inside their little mind and heart.

As a toddler mom with a decade of knowledge about food, I believe that a child’s health is not just about their physical growth but also their mental and emotional well-being. Because of this, I'm going to write today about raising children's awareness of mental health issues because, in our culture, we believe that the terms "mental health," "stress," and "anxiety" only apply to adults and not to infants and young children. Due to the lack of awareness, parents get late in diagnosing their child's mental health.

First, we need to understand what mental health is in children. It refers to how children feel, think, and behave in their everyday lives. It's all about the ability to manage stress, learn new skills, and build relations with their surroundings. Why does it matter? Good mental health is the foundation of learning, confidence, and emotional strength. Just as strong bones and teeth need calcium, a strong, healthy mind needs love, affection, support, and awareness. I'll talk to you today about the early warning signs that parents should look out for. Early warning signs of mental health in children:

Sudden mood changes:

Research shows that persistent sadness, aggression, and irritability may indicate anxiety or depression in children. Parents' solution is to talk to your child softly, sit and talk to your child, and don’t think he/she will not understand what you will talk about, and ask open-ended questions like, "I noticed you are upset. Do you want me to share what happened?" Spend one-on-one time to build trust.

Sleep issues:

For all ages, getting enough sleep is the most important part of mental and physical development. Sleep is just as important as food for children's early years. If your child has good sleep, that's a good sign. But if not, you need to pay attention. Sleep disturbance is directly linked with emotional stress and anxiety in children (American Academy of Paediatrics, 2020). Parent solution: maintain a calming bedtime routine, avoid screens before bed, dim lights, offer a comforting bedtime story, and cuddle. 

Loss of interest in studies and play:

A study shows that when children don’t show interest in activities they once enjoyed, it may be a sign of depression or that the child is emotionally overloaded. Therefore, parent your little efforts, influence your child's life, and praise and encourage their little activities. In this way, they will regain interest at their own pace.

Frequent physical complaints:

Research shows that children often express stress and their emotions through physical symptoms such as stomach-aches and headaches without a medical reason. In this situation, parents, first, you need to rule out the medical issues. If clear, then acknowledge their feelings, and also teach them simple relaxing/calming techniques like deep breathing that help to draw out emotions.

Avoiding social gatherings:

Parents' social withdrawal is a red flag for both early depression and anxiety. So when you find these signs, then you have to pay attention. First, you need to be very polite when you talk to your child about what he is doing. After that, you can invite his friends and cousins to play at your place. Take your child for social interactions at small gatherings like playdates, birthday parties, and onedish parties. Don’t force big gatherings. In our society, we usually think children don’t have stress, but that's not true. If we ignore their small struggles, emotions can turn into a big challenge as they grow. According to the WHO (2021), between the ages of 10 and 19 years, 1 in 7 children experiences a mental health disorder, yet most cases are unnoticed. Additionally, research indicates that parents can prevent long-term mental health issues through early recognition.