Start them young: The importance of mental health awareness among adolescents

By Rajeev Sibal

“I know that the greatest joy of my life has come from my violin,” said one of the world’s most celebrated Nobel Prize-winning physicists. One might have expected him to talk about the Theory of Relativity, solving the riddle of the photoelectric effect, or his seminal contributions to nuclear energy. But no one would have thought that Albert Einstein would point to the humble violin; he gave him his mother at the age of 6, to be one of the greatest sources of happiness for him?

Einstein’s sister once confessed that “he had such difficulty with language that those around him feared he would never learn.” Einstein’s love of music and learning a musical instrument helped him overcome many limitations as a child. Later, Einstein himself confessed that his love for music played a key role in cognitive development in his early years and also helped him deal with emotions and interpersonal relationships.

Studies have shown that between the ages of 2-7 our brains undergo drastic developmental changes. It reaches about 90% of its adult size by the age of 7 years. Between the ages of 10 and 25, he undergoes changes that have implications for his learning, behavior, psychology, and other critical functions. These early formative years are critical for physical and mental growth. However, mental health is a looming issue that could be detrimental to the growth of our children, which is often neglected and stigmatized.

According to UNICEF, children with mental health disorders remain largely undiagnosed because most parents are hesitant to seek help or treatment. According to the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (August 2019), even before the pandemic, it was estimated that at least 50 million children in India had mental health problems. The worst part is that 80-90% have not sought support and remain untreated.

Without treatment, many mental health problems can carry over into adulthood. Those children are more likely to grow up to have a greater chance of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and violent or self-destructive behavior, among other things.

But should we blame our children for not opening up, when it is the adults who need to open up to the problem at hand? According to a 2013 study, it showed that there was discrimination and stigma towards mental disorders, which was a major barrier to seeking mental health services in India. “It contributes to delays in seeking care, prevents timely diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, serves as an impediment to recovery and rehabilitation, and ultimately reduces the opportunity for fuller participation in life,” the newspaper said.

Furthermore, the National Mental Health Survey in India conducted in 2016 estimated that at least 150 million people required short-term and long-term mental health interventions. This number could have easily doubled in the last 6 years, with the pandemic also contributing significantly. When such a large section of the adult population requires mental health care, is stigmatized for seeking support, and goes undiagnosed, then how do we ensure our children experience positive mental health?

However, some welcome changes have developed, spurred by the widespread opening of voices for better mental well-being, which is a requirement in the post-pandemic era where social interactions have largely gone virtual. Under the auspices of the National Mental Health Mission, the Maharashtra government has started four courses related to mental health in three regional hospitals in Thane, Pune and Nagpur. Even though the courses have been introduced after three long years of support, it sets the stage for faster turnaround time.

Virtual counseling is an important and viable means of scaling access to mental health care services. In addition to private doctors who lead psychological support, the government is not far behind. During the current year’s budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the National Tele-Mental Health Program (NTMHP), which includes the construction of a network of 23 tele-mental health centers of excellence in all India.

In late September, the Bhubaneswar Police also launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of mental health and stress management. Meanwhile, on September 6, member nations of the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia region committed to providing universal access to mental health care through the Paro Declaration. This declaration calls for increased funding, a continued supply of medicines, and an evidence-based community network.

At the end of the day, we need to realize that mental wellness starts at home and from within. Basic everyday actions like maintaining open and honest communication, letting our children know they are loved and supported, giving them positive feedback, and including them in everyday decision-making are the building blocks that can build emotionally mature and strong citizens. of tomorrow . An integrated approach to health, education, tackling stigma and promoting investments in mental health for children and adolescents can propel India and the world to greater heights.

(The author is Chairman of India Region Formulations (IRF), Lupine Limited. The opinions expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of FinancialExpress.com).