Understanding children's mental health

CHILDREN encounter similar environmental settings as adults: they deal with their peers the same way we do, they tend to bottle up emotions due to fear and they often can’t express their true feelings. As gut wrenching as it is, children are susceptible to the same mental health challenges, which mostly go unnoticed. Be it at school or home, kids develop stressors that lead to mental health challenges that can be detrimental to their learning and development.

Unfortunately, these stressors follow them into adulthood and that’s how the cycle continues. If you really think about your own mental health and where it started, you would be led directly to your childhood. If we take a look at schools today, the amount of bullying has almost quadrupled since the early 2000s.

Children who bully others could be acting out what they see at home and how their parents treat each other. It all starts at home. Whatever they believe as a child, they take it further into adulthood and are indoctrinated with those beliefs. If we ignore the mental health of a child, we are further enhancing a future of corrupted adults.

How do you know if your child is suffering with a mental health problem?

They often isolate themselves or do the opposite, they act out and become rebellious. They usually have difficulty learning because their mental development has been impaired. Children who suffer from mental health problems find it difficult to express their feelings as they are afraid of either rejection or further criticism.

I dislike the term “kids will be kids" and I’ll tell you why.

Kids will behave as per how they are raised. A loving, nourishing and happy household makes happy, healthy children. We must pay attention to our children and speak sensibly and give them a platform to come to us when they have a problem.

How do we help our kids that are suffering with mental health issues?

- Talk to your child about their day, be it at school or just a regular day. Maintain your silence and let them express themselves easily. Questions like “How was your day” and “How was school” are a great way to get the conversation started. As you speak to him/her, you will learn more about what happened in the day.

- Remain calm and collected if your child confides in you in the direction you weren’t expecting. Perhaps, a fellow pupil threatened your child and now your child is afraid to go to school. In that situation, approach the school immediately and report the issue.

- Encourage your child to spend some time playing outside in the sun. If it is cold where you live, invest in smart games like puzzles to keep them entertained and their minds occupied.

- Always reassure your child. Always be their number one fan and their full-time cheerleader. Provide constant encouragement in activities they wish to pursue (no matter how horrible they are at it) and give them gentle criticism to improve themselves. Make this a daily routine. Perhaps during supper at the table, talk about the day and pay close attention to their facial expression and body language as they explain it to you. It will show you their demeanour and how they truly feel. Always make sure that they know they are in a safe space to talk and let them do most of the talking.

- Seek medical help if you feel as though the issue is worsening and don’t be afraid of medication and the stigma attached to it. Psychologists can be extremely beneficial and the well being of your child comes first. Ignore the stigma that is attached and do what’s best for your child.

All your child needs is reassurance, a confidante, a leader and a strong-minded person to help them in their healing journey – which is you, the parent. Always remind them that it is not their fault to feel how they feel. Provide a warm and loving atmosphere at home and ensure that your child is not exposed to negative actions that may occur at home. Listen, reassure and boost your child’s mindset. Their mindset is our future. 

Kamini Rambridge, a business owner, gives personal insights on mental health wellness through her blog, Mental(it)y Matters, which she launched in 2023. Her initiative not only aims to create awareness, but also serves as a therapeutic outlet for her own experiences. Visit https://kamzrambridge.wixsite.com/mentalitymatters

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