Are we ignoring the health of minds of our kids ?

December 19, 2007

With each passing moment as more and more cases instances of stress, aggression and depression come forth to light, the society as a whole needs to have a relook at our children’s behavioral health - mental and psychological.

With growing incidents of childhood and adolescent aggression, depression and even suicide sounding alarmingly familiar we should be pressing the panic button about children’s mental health. However there is little support to say that the button is within our sights.

Institutes like Three springs can only come when we realize the magnitude of the problem. The WHO - World Health Organization - has indicated that by the end of year 2020, behavioral neurospsychiatric disorders would rise by over 50%, worldwide. Although the issue is big enough, the intervention levels are only in their infancy stage.

The underlying causes for such problems are aplenty. The causes have more to do with the changing social norms and the lifestyles than the mental strength of the teenager. Even though the teenagers might be more genetically pre-disposed to adhd treatment and depression, the environmental factors also cause much damage and aggravate the crisis.

Increased awareness among the parents is needed to remove the apprehensions attached to seeking medical help on such issues. A more focused training to teachers to handle mental and behavioral problems and specialized counseling courses are the way ahead.

Posted in Health, Mental Health