Why is it Important to Look After Your Children's Mental Health?

The mental health of kids and adolescents is crucial, as it aids in a smoother transition to adulthood. The pressures of daily life can often blindside parents to the challenges that kids face, leading to undiagnosed and ignored issues. Children who are supported in every facet of their lives are better equipped to handle adulthood and its responsibilities, leading more productive and healthier lives. 

 

Ensuring the mental well-being of your child is crucial, as it is one of the leading causes of death amongst kids aged 15-19 across the world, according to UNICEF. It is estimated that one in seven adolescents experience mental disorders, amounting to nearly 166 million adolescents globally. In India alone, nearly 50 million children suffer from mental disorders, a conservative figure given the exclusion of adolescents from the study. And yet, there's a sizeable gap in access to quality mental healthcare – the biggest gaps being in low-income countries – where it’s usually taboo to talk about mental health.

 

The pandemic has aggravated the situation with social isolation and lack of physical activity – both of which are risk factors for developing mental illnesses. Depressive disorders have increased substantially during the pandemic, affecting adults as well as young children. These risk factors, combined with a lack of quality mental healthcare ecosystem, means that children will grow into depressive adults, and not be ready for the responsibilities it entails. And that’s why there's a growing need to highlight the importance of addressing mental health, especially amongst children.  

 

 

What is Children's Mental Health Week?

 

Children's Mental Health Week is celebrated every year, usually in the first half of February – to raise awareness of the fact that children experience mental health issues, and it must be addressed for individual and societal benefits. The first Children's Mental Health Week was launched in 2015 by a UK-based charity. Now in its eighth year, it has morphed into a global 'movement'. The theme for Children's Mental Health Week 2022 is 'Growing Together', an idea that encourages children and adults to reflect on how they've grown and help others to grow as well. 

 

 

Why Do We Need to Address Children's Mental Health?

 

Behaviour, social relationships, and psychological and emotional development are all affected by mental health problems in children. Ensuring their mental well-being helps them develop emotionally and cognitively, allowing them to form effective relationships and cope with problems. These traits are essential in navigating adulthood. And a healthily functioning adult is also likely to contribute more to society and be more productive.

Furthermore, studies show that there is a significant economic impact of mental illness, including the cost of healthcare itself, as well as the indirect cost of time and resources towards treating the illness, not to mention the lost economic opportunities prior to and during the treatment. This burden on the economy can be mitigated by addressing mental illness in children – nipping it in the bud. It is much easier to prevent mental illnesses from progressing than it is to treat them later on. It starts with identifying the risk factors early on and providing timely interventions.

 

 

Risk Factors around Children's Mental Health

 

The more the number of risk factors, the higher the prevalence of mental health issues. These can include:

 

·      Premature birth

·      Low birth weight

·      Poor physical health

·      Genetics

·      Substance abuse in parents

·      Family violence

·      Poor socioeconomic status

·      Vulnerability (sexually abused, foster care, refugees)

·      Learning disability

 

Most of these factors are responsible for illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit, and hyperactivity. However, accurate diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing them. 

 

 

How to Protect your Child?

 

Studies in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry have established that children rarely get the care they need – as a result of inadequate policymaking, lack of quality healthcare systems, and continued stigmatisation of mental health diseases. However, as parents, you are best placed to facilitate better mental health. 

 

Encourage daily exercise and lead by example. Cultivate a healthy diet by eating the right food. Talk to your children regularly and consult a healthcare professional if behavioural issues arise. Talk to your child's teachers and ensure that their environment is safe and stimulating to reduce stress while learning.

 

 

Conclusion

 

While the abovementioned points will ensure your child is getting the best care needed, you must opt for a health insurance plan to deal with any mental-health-related issues in your children. Make sure the plan covers pre-and post-hospitalisation, emergency ambulance expenses, and more. A good health insurance plan provides adequate coverage and convenience for unfortunate incidences. These health insurance benefits go a long way in providing security for the physical and mental health of your children and you, the policyholder. Safeguard your family with a family floater plan to ensure complete coverage for everyone.