How important is the mental health of children?
Recent data released by the National Health Commission shows that there are at least 30 million children and adolescents under the age of 17 with various mental health issues.
Specifically, 13% of elementary school students have psychological or behavioral problems, 15% of middle school students, 19% of high school students, and even higher at 25% among college students. These data indicate that the mental health issues of children today cannot be ignored, and parents need to take them seriously. Especially during the summer vacation, parents need to pay more attention to the physical and mental health of their children.
1. How important is mental health?
Every parent hopes for their child’s healthy growth. We usually notice physical discomfort in children quickly, such as malnutrition or a cold, but often overlook their psychological issues. Some parents do not understand why there are so many psychological issues in children nowadays and feel that they are very fragile.
Some parents think this is because children are being spoiled; they believe that in the past, living conditions were worse, but they did not experience issues like depression or suicide themselves. Indeed, most children in the past grew up in relatively harsh environments.
However, as society develops, people’s psychological needs are also changing. In the past, people mainly pursued physiological and safety needs, but now they seek a sense of belonging and respect.
Parents who grew up in relatively difficult environments may not have learned psychological knowledge and skills such as self-acceptance, empathy, perspective-taking, and emotional management.
The psychological needs of this generation of children have increased, but many parents have not realized this yet. With rapid social development and the aging of children, they will encounter more problems and pressures. This may lead to more psychological and behavioral issues, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive symptoms, school aversion, internet addiction, and even suicide and self-harm.
Therefore, we must realize that a child’s healthy growth includes not only physical health but also mental health. Only by ensuring a child’s mental health can their growth be truly healthy.
2. What signs indicate that a child has emotional issues?
When children face psychological issues, they will display some obvious signs, which may involve emotional, behavioral, or physiological changes. Parents need to pay special attention and respond promptly. Here are some warning signs that children may have psychological problems:
1. Physiological changes
If a child suddenly loses appetite or vomits after binge eating, experiences insomnia, early awakening, hormonal imbalances, etc., these could be signs of psychological issues.
2. Emotional changes
If a child who was originally cheerful and lively becomes emotionally down, especially if this mood persists, parents should pay special attention.
3. Behavioral changes
For example, if a child was previously enthusiastic about something but now seems distracted, makes frequent mistakes, this could also be a sign of psychological issues.
4. Academic changes
If a child’s grades continue to decline, or if teachers report that the child is not paying attention in class, this could also be a sign of psychological issues.
5. Interpersonal relationship changes
Parents should pay attention to whether their children have friends. If a child is isolated or bullied at school, or lacks a friend to confide in, minor issues may not be resolved, leading to prolonged negative emotions.
There are some more serious signs that parents need to be particularly vigilant about, such as self-harm, suicidal thoughts, becoming silent and uncommunicative, overly sensitive and fragile, easily impulsive and belligerent, aversion to school, extreme fear of exams, frequent illnesses, or low self-esteem.
If a child shows these clear signs, it indicates that their psychological condition may be very serious. In this case, parents should immediately accompany their child to a children’s specialized hospital for consultation.
Friendly reminder
Today, many parents pay excessive attention to their children’s education and physical health but overlook their psychological health. This leads to children frequently experiencing depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues.
If these problems are not identified and resolved in a timely manner, they will have a serious impact on children’s learning and socializing, and may persist into adulthood. Early intervention yields better results.
