| We live in a world where stress is an | | | | Children (especially young children) are |
| everyday thing. Many adults have trouble | | | | not capable of describing their thoughts |
| coping with daily stresses of work, | | | | and feelings well. So it is up to us |
| family,finances, etc. All these can lead | | | | adults to look out for troubling |
| to anxiety disorders. What about our | | | | symptoms that may mean our children are |
| children? They are the same, they are | | | | having mental disorders. These include : |
| humans too and have emotions so they too | | | | 1. A child is troubled by certain |
| are susceptible to mental and emotional | | | | feelings. |
| disorders. | | | | These feelings could be: sadness and |
| It is therefore very important to | | | | hopelessness for no good reason, extreme |
| observe our children and watch for any | | | | anger most of the time, lots of crying, |
| signs that they are maybe having trouble | | | | overreaction to minor issues, feelings |
| coping. According to recent studies, as | | | | of worthlessness or guilty, anxious or |
| many as one in five children have a | | | | worried, unable to get over the loss or |
| mental health disorder and one in ten | | | | death of someone important, extremely |
| have a serious mental health problem. | | | | fearful or having unexplained fear, |
| Now, this is not a joking matter. | | | | obsessing about physical appearances, |
| Mental disorders can be classified into | | | | worried that his/her mind is being |
| three three categories as follows:- | | | | controlled or is out of control. |
| 1. Emotional disorders | | | | 2. A child experiences life changing |
| - are also known as anxiety and mood | | | | circumstances |
| disorders. Includes depression, bipolar | | | | Such circumstance can result in : a |
| disorder, separation anxiety, anxiety | | | | decline in school performance, no |
| disorder, post-traumatic stress and OCD | | | | interest in things they once loved, |
| (obsessive-compulsive disorder). What | | | | changes in eating or sleeping patterns, |
| happens if this category of disorder is | | | | avoiding friends and family and wanting |
| not treated? Health experts say it can | | | | to be alone, daydreaming to much, |
| often lead to suicide! | | | | feeling like life is too difficult to |
| 2. Behavior disorders | | | | handle, hearing voices, having suicidal |
| - are also referred to as disruptive | | | | thoughts. |
| disorders. Includes ADD (attention | | | | 3. A child experiences poor |
| deficit Disorder)/ADHD (attention | | | | concentration |
| deficit hyperactivity disorder), conduct | | | | You child is unable to make up his/her |
| disorder, aggressive and/or defiant | | | | mind, unable to sit still, worried about |
| behavior, disruptive disorder and | | | | being harmed, a need to wash or clean |
| oppositional defiant disorder. What | | | | things repeatedly or perform certain |
| happens if this category of disorder is | | | | routines over and over. |
| not treated? Health experts say it can | | | | 4. A child's behavior cause problems |
| often lead to dropping out of school and | | | | Some problems are : abuse of alcohol or |
| involvement in criminal behavior | | | | other drugs, eating and purging, |
| 3. Other disorders | | | | laxative abuse, obsessively dieting or |
| - include eating disorders and | | | | exercising, a blatant disregard for |
| schizophrenia. What happens if this | | | | others or other people's property, |
| category of disorder is not treated? | | | | setting fires, abusing animals. |
| Health experts say it can often lead to | | | | If your child is exhibiting such |
| death! | | | | behavioral traits, it is time to seek |
| But what are the causes of children's | | | | help before the situation gets out of |
| mental health problems? These two are | | | | control. There are many treatment |
| the most common causes :- | | | | options for mental health disorders in |
| 1. Biological causes | | | | children. You can seek individual, group |
| - include genetics, damage to the | | | | and family therapy, medication and play |
| central nervous system or chemical | | | | therapy. Note that such treatments are |
| imbalances. | | | | most beneficial when they are home, |
| 2.Environmental causes | | | | school and community based as your child |
| - include stress, exposure to violence, | | | | will be more relax and receptive in |
| stress, losses through death or divorce | | | | these environment. |
| or environmental toxins. | | | | |