My answer is an unequivocal yes to whoever asks this question, “Is mental health awareness necessary for children?”
Mental health includes our whole being – our emotional, social, & psychological self. It influences what we sense, how we feel, how plus what we think & eventually manages to how we behave. The foundation of all adults is laid in their childhood, so the foundation of sound mental health must be also laid in these formative years. Every stage of human life & mental health is connected – from childhood to adolescence, to youth, to adulthood, also finally to old age. Neither of the stages is more powerful or less prominent.
Children should be made conscious that just like our natural health, we have mental health. We give attention to food and exercise to develop, similarly, we must understand the meaning of mental health awareness. Giving priority to our ideas and feelings can help develop the ability to face all the challenges that life would force on us. An honest conversation with the kids will be healthy when we say, all who have a body have to consider their physical health, and all who have a mind have to think of mental health. Policies to have healthier and happier children should be our predominant priority.
Sound mental health is necessary for a child’s success in life – be it in school or with friends. When we introduce such a growth mindset in ourselves plus our children, there will be no blame attached to mental health. Shame should nevermore block the path to take help.
Everyone (including children) can be excited and scared sometimes. Encouragement should be provided to recognize thoughts & feelings and talk about them. No one requires to worry alone and it’s OKAY to ask for help; this should be the obvious message dispatched to children.
Adults who are nearby children – parents and teachers, have to be alert & interested in a child’s body language, verbal & non-verbal conversations with others, in what they write, plus what they draw. If they find something wrong, then it’s okay not to help the child to start the conversation or trust in us.
Mary Angelou said, “When you understand better, you do better.” So the first step of the ladder is recognizing inner thoughts. Help the child to understand those ideas & feelings, accept them and that will provide them the power to lead them into the world that is dreamt of. Paying attention & being mindful of the thoughts and all the reasons that the thoughts create is the key beginning to realization.
Moods & thoughts change regularly, so offering empathy plus being understanding provides confidence to the child, rather than being judgmental also offering solutions. Unconditional love plus no rationing in awarding recognition whenever the child does something good is highly recommended. A listening ear is a great beginning and delivering instructions can follow later. Substituting nagging & yelling with disciplining among respect is something I endorse. The last aim should be, “I require my child to be happy”, so their strengths & weaknesses, both should be accepted.
Happiness is the central component of mental health. Everyone is born as a happy child; we spend it somewhere in the process while growing up. Growing up at any age is not extremely easy & becomes questionable when we try to maintain pace with others around us & others’ expectations of us. Life does not begin with an instruction booklet and everyone has to face the music they listen to. Empower the children to have confidence in themselves & their abilities and they shall be ready to move mountains & live a healthy, happy life.
