Small signs, big signals: Identifying mental health concerns in children

What elevates the risk of serious Mental health issues are circumstances associated with family stress & persistent poverty. Children are most vulnerable to Mental health issues because of recurrent abuse , neglect, domestic violence, parental Mental health issues & parental substance abuse issues.Life experiences such as stress or history of child sexual abuse if happen in childhood.Biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain. Mental health crisis in children at risk of harming themselves or others or if their emotions and behaviour seem extreme and out of control.Symptoms: start in early childhood. Some disorders may develop during the teenage years.Diagnosis is often made in the school years & some time earlier.Persistent sadness that lasts two weeks or more.Some in remote places Mental health may not be recognised or diagnosed as having one.Mental disorder can begin in childhood examples includes anxiety disorder, attention -deficit/hyper activity (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, depression, eating disorders and post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD )Mental health issues can impact a child 's life Youth with Mental health issues are more likely to be unhappy at school, be absent, or be suspended or expelled. Their learning is negatively impacted because of poor concentration, distractibility, inability to retain information, poor peer relationships and aggressive behaviour .50% of the Mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24. 10% of the children and young people ( aged 5 - 16 years) have clinically diagnosable mental problems . Yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience Mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. 1. connection 2. Calm 3. Commitment 4. Consistency 5. Communication 6. Choices 7. Consequences 8. Confidence 9. Coaching and creativity 10. Co-operation Healthy effective discipline depends on building the right relationship with a child to encourage his or her total development mind, body, emotions, relationships and values.Summary:Children, one left without the most important foundation for healthy development are at risk for 1. Low self-esteem 2. Lack of self control 3. Anti social attitudes and behaviour 4. Aggressive and violence 5. Lack of empathy, compassion and remorse.1. Separation Anxiety disorder before 12 years. Higher rates among females.2. Conduct disorder before 12 years. Higher rates among males.3. ADHD before 12 years. Higher rates among males.4. Enuresis 5 -8 years. Higher rates among males.5. Encorpresis after 4 years. Higher rates among males.6. Learning disorders 6-9 years. Higher rates among males.7. Autism 0-3 years. Higher rates among males.8. Mental retardation before 10 years. Higher rates among males.Children typically experience at least some emotional and behavioral problems in the normal course of development. Many, however, display clinical disorders. These children may suffer from adult - like disorders such as social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, or depression, or they may experience disorders identified more closely with childhood, such as separation anxiety disorder, attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder, enuresis, encorpresis, or disorders of learning, communication, and coordination. Some of these disorders,such as enuresis and encorpresis, disappear or greatly improve as the individual ages, particularly with treatment interventions. Others, such as severe conduct disorders,may linger into adulthood, sometimes in an altered form.Mental health Main aim includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also determines how we handle stress relates to others and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.(Dr Sugami Ramesh, Senior clinical psychologist, Apollo hospital bannerghatta road, Bangalore)