Mental health is especially important throughout the formative years of childhood and adolescence. The brain is undergoing a period of fast growth and development during this time. The cognitive and social-emotional abilities that children and adolescents develop impact their long-term mental health and prepare them to take on adult responsibilities in society. According to various researches and reports by WHO, depression, stress, and other mood disorders are common in children and adolescents, and they may have serious consequences for their physical and emotional well-being (Rao & Chen, 2022).
Environmental factors have a significant impact on the health and development of children and adolescents. Mental illness is more likely to develop if a child is exposed to violence, the mental illness of a parent or caregiver, bullying, or poverty at an early age (Arseneault, 2018). Adolescence may be a stressful time due to a variety of factors, including the need to fit in with one's classmates and the process of discovering one's own unique identity. When a teenager is influenced by media and gender standards, the gap between what they experience in actual life and what they want to achieve might be much greater. The quality of a person's family life and the quality of their friendships are also key factors. Abuse (particularly sexual violence and bullying), harsh parenting, and severe and economic hardships are well-known risk factors for mental health issues. It is also common for adolescents and young adults to develop anorexia and bulimia, which are both forms of eating disorders. Preoccupation with food, irregular eating habits, and worries about body weight and form are also form part of mental health disorder. According to the report by WHO, ten percent of children and adolescents worldwide have a mental condition, however the vast majority do not seek assistance or get treatment (Who.int, 2021).
It might be difficult to comprehend mental health issues in children since normal childhood development is a process that includes change. Additionally, the signs of a condition may fluctuate depending on a child's age, and youngsters may not be able to describe how they feel or why they are acting a particular fashion. If a child is suspected of having a mental disorder, there may be other reasons why parents are reluctant to seek help. Mental illness has a stigma attached to it, and parents may be worried about the side effects of drugs, as well as the expense and logistics of therapy.
Psychotherapy and medication are two of the most common treatments for children with mental health issues. To treat mental health issues in a therapeutic setting, people often seek the help of a psychologist or other mental health professional (Kolovos, Kleiboer, and Cuijpers, 2016). When children and adolescents get psychotherapy, they learn how to express their ideas and feelings, how to cope with their emotions, and how to develop new habits and coping mechanisms. Medicine may be prescribed by a healthcare practitioner or mental health professional as part of the treatment plan for the child's mental health issues.
In conclusion, neglecting a child's or adolescent's mental health and social development has long-term implications that follow them into adulthood and impair their ability to live happy, full lives (Dye, 2018). It is important that parents, teachers and community members keep a close watch on the behaviour of the child and intervene early to mitigate common mental health problems.
References
Arseneault, L., 2018. Annual research review: the persistent and pervasive impact of being bullied in childhood and adolescence: implications for policy and practice. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 59(4), pp.405-421.
Dye, H., 2018. The impact and long-term effects of childhood trauma. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 28(3), pp.381-392.
Kolovos, S., Kleiboer, A. and Cuijpers, P., 2016. Effect of psychotherapy for depression on quality of life: meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 209(6), pp.460-468.
Rao, U., & Chen, L. A. (2022). Characteristics, correlates, and outcomes of childhood and adolescent depressive disorders. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience.
Who.int. (2021). Adolescent mental health. Retrieved 23 June 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
