Childhood is the right time to lay the proper foundation for a good mental health in children Any errors in the formation of children’s emotions during this time could make them susceptible to unhealthy ways of coping with the twists and turns of life that could complicate or hinder their life. To raise a resilient and emotionally intelligent child, it is important to instill certain habits in her from an early age so that her mental health is not strained as an adult and she has a reduced risk of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety among other problems. (Also read: Why children hide their struggle for mental health; a psychiatrist explains)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 10-12 percent of children and adolescents experience mental disorders and this needs to be addressed at the right time. The majority of mental illnesses in children, almost 50% of them begin at the age of 1 year and 75% of mental health problems in children occur around the age of 20.
“Raising healthy, happy children can be a challenge, considering the world has become very fast-paced and technology-oriented. With excessive media exposure and an unhealthy rat race, children are forced to grow up under a immense pressure. This, in turn, increases the cases of depression, suicide and trauma, especially among adolescents who cannot cope with the daily stress they have to face in their life,” says Anubhuti Das, Counselor Psychologist, Department of Health Mental and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Hospital Mumbai.
Priyanka Jagasia, a consultant psychologist at the Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Hospital Mumbai says that the quality of the environment in which children and adolescents grow up can influence their well-being and development.
“When children experience negative experiences in their homes, including exposure to violence, mental illness of a parent or other caregiver, bullying, and poverty, it can substantially increase the risk of mental illness. In addition, children often they find it difficult to express their emotions, so instilling good habits in mental health can help them deal with various problems in healthy ways,” says Jagasia.
These are some of the healthy habits suggested by Anubhuti Das and Priyanka Jagasia that can be taught to young children so that they can better handle the many challenges in their lives.
Identify and express emotions in a healthy way: A child may not always be able to express their feelings, especially when they are strong (such as anger and frustration), and often ends up having tantrums. It is essential to teach them healthy ways to cope with their emotions. While tantrums cannot be completely avoided, they should be given the space to calm down and taught good coping tactics, such as deep breathing, hobbies, and enjoyment of physical activity.
After calming down, they should be made to understand the perspective of their parents/caregivers. If this is not done at the right age and in the right way, they will develop unhealthy ways of coping with overwhelming emotions, which can, in the long run, lead to a lot of emotional and mental conflict.
Have a daily routine: The importance of having a regular and fixed routine is essential for the good upbringing of a child. For example, they should have a set time for sleeping, waking up, and eating. These daily structures will help the child develop a healthy lifestyle. If they are allowed to do what they want at any time, they will lack discipline, which will make it difficult for them to function in schools and in society in general.
Develop skills and abilities: Children need to know that there will be challenges at every stage of their lives, so they must learn to overcome and achieve goals despite the obstacles they face. In addition to achieving academic success and developing individual talents, children must also learn to connect with friends and family. By increasing their intellectual abilities and developing their social skills, they can effectively reduce the stress and anxiety that they may feel in their daily lives.
Provide opportunities for independence: Children feel better about themselves when they can do things for themselves. So whether you’re teaching your kids how to attend an online class or letting them take responsibility for cleaning their room, small daily tasks can help kids build their confidence and show everyone in the family that they have skills. to perform and execute. various tasks
Encourage creativity: It is the job of parents, teachers and caregivers to teach them creative skills so that they can find outlets to express their emotions. It is essential to understand that each child possesses a unique set of skills, and they should be encouraged to do things for which they already have a natural skill set. Whether it’s playing a particular sport or instrument or performing arts like dance and drama or even writing and painting, these skills are valuable tools in helping a child deal with the daily stresses and anxieties she faces.
Since creativity is a natural human way of expressing emotions, all children should be given these tools so that they can improve and protect their mental health from unwanted stress.
.
