Children’s Mental Health

While Moms spend a lot of time tending to their children, providing everything that they need and more, mental health issues are cropping up more.

In past years, people with mental health issues spent time in hospitals, as there were not many psychotropic medications to assist with the various diagnoses that people presented. Autism, for example, often was considered in the schizo-affective realm, so children in this spectrum were horribly misdiagnosed.

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Activity Disorder were considered the product of bad parenting. Special education classes were few and far between, so help for these issues was non-existent.

However, as pharmaceutical companies and education systems have come up with better solutions, incidents of mental health issues have increased. Why?

The reason is that people feel better when they are on medication and therapy regimes that address their symptoms. They marry and have children, not always realizing that some mental health issues can be repeated in the next generation.

It is important for Moms to nurture their children’s mental, as well as physical, health. Nurturing is the key, of course. Children who know they are loved are healthier in all aspects.

Talking and listening with children is the next most important thing. Every day children should have the opportunity to talk about their day, what happened, the challenges they faced and overcame, problems that they had or anything else that they choose to discuss. Moms need to learn to read between the lines to determine what is unspoken in the conversation. Offer encouragement and praise so that children will learn to open up more fully.

Consistency in parenting is crucial. It is important to set clear expectations that are fair with clear consequences. Acknowledge both the positives and negatives of the child’s behaviors. Build up their confidence; encourage them to try new things and praise their efforts in doing so.

Talk with children about your own experiences with shyness, school and other childhood woes. They will feel better knowing that their heroes have had difficult times also.

Along that same vein, it is important for Moms to realize that they are role models for their children. The family unit should be a safe haven for children, not a battle ground. Responding to children with anger encourages them to take that anger out on someone else.

Good, healthy diet and regular exercise are essential. Exercise releases the “feel good” endorphins that help to battle depression and improve moods. Children who sit in front of the television statistically suffer from increased mental illness.

If Moms see any unusual behavior or suspect that some symptoms are present, a professional should be contacted immediately. Help is available at the school district level in most cases—and is free.