Supporting Children’s Mental Health: Effective Ways to Promote Well-Being

The mental health of children is fundamental to their wellbeing; poor mental health as a child can have lasting effects. This articles shows professionals how to promote children's mental health.

Why is Children’s Mental Health Important?

Children’s mental health is critical to children’s and young people’s well-being and development as this encompasses children’s emotional, psychological and social well-being.

Poor mental health can cause distress, impact academic progress and hamper social relationships; furthermore, poor mental health can also affect children’s physical health and their life chances.

Parents, educators, and caregivers are crucial in promoting Children’s Mental Health, as your understanding and support can significantly impact a child’s well-being.

Research by Murphy and Fonagy (2012) identifies that some of the common mental health issues that are seen in children and young people include:

Conduct / Behaviour Disorders (ODD and CD)

Children with behavioural disorders engage in disruptive and defiant behaviour and display hostility towards authoritative figures.

This can lead to difficulties in school and poor relationships with peers and adults.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Children with ADHD can display inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviours/actions.

ADHD can cause children to struggle with academic performance, behaviour in school and social relationships.

Emotional Disorders (Anxiety and depression)

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues that is seen in children and can manifest as excessive worry, fear or nervousness. Depression can present as persistent sadness, irritability, loss of interest and changes to sleep routines and appetites.

Anxiety can lead to school refusal and avoidance of social situations, while depression can lead to more severe outcomes such as self-harm and suicide.

Key Factors Influencing Children’s Mental Health

Family

Living with a family that is stable and supportive is crucial in promoting children’s mental health.

Stressors such as parental conflict, domestic violence (both seeing and hearing), divorce/separation and parents who have mental health issues can all negatively affect the mental health of children.

Socioeconomic status

Poverty, deprivation, lack of access to health services, poor academic abilities of parents and exposure to ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) can all negatively affect children’s mental health. (Reiss, 2013)

School

School life should be a fun and positive experience; however, bullying, academic pressures and lack of support within school can all negatively affect the mental health of children.

Alternatively, schools can also be in an excellent position to promote good mental health by building positive relationships with children, creating a positive school environment, listening to children, and enhancing resilience and well-being.

Trauma / ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

Abuse, neglect, witnessing violence and other traumatic events can all have long-lasting effects on children’s mental health. If left unresolved, children with trauma can continue to re-live these experiences, which will continuously impact their mental well-being. These experiences can lead to anxiety, depression and PTSD.

Social Media

Technology is brilliant and has quickly become part of our everyday existence by offering educational benefits, access to information and social connection at the click of a button. Excessive use of social media has been linked to increased anxiety and depression and can leave children feeling isolated from the real world.

Empowering Parents, Educators, and Caregivers through early Intervention of Children’s Mental Health Issues

Accessing mental health services such as counselling and therapy is vital to addressing mental health problems as early as possible. In some cases, medication might also be needed. Speaking to your GP or a healthcare professional is usually a good starting point.

Early intervention is critical for children with mental health issues as it not only allows for early treatment but the longer that problems are left untreated, the greater the likelihood for long-term consequences.

Parents, teachers, and healthcare providers are often best placed to provide early intervention and support to children. They should be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health problems in children, which can include:

changes in behaviour,
withdrawal and social isolation,
mood swings or extreme/excessive emotions,
difficulty concentrating, and,
changes to sleep patterns,
changes in appetite,
unexplained physical complaints,
decline in academic performance,
school avoidance/refusal,
loss of interest in activities and, or,
self-injury.

Lastly, involving the child’s family in the treatment process and including schools and communities that are connected to the child in the support/safety plan can have a significant positive impact on the outcomes for children with mental health concerns.

Empowering Professionals to Address Children’s Mental Health

Promoting resilience and engaging children in programs that help to build resilience can help protect them against future mental health problems. Teaching coping skills, giving the child a sense of belonging and encouraging positive relations are vital skills that can be taught to children to promote resilience.
Schools and communities play a critical role in providing education about mental health. They can teach skills such as accepting and understanding emotions, reducing stigma around mental health, and sign-posting to relevant mental health professionals when needed. Additionally, they can create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters resilience and positive mental health in children.
Similar to educating children about mental health, educating parents and caregivers can empower them to spot the early signs of mental health problems, which will allow them to support their children effectively and provide early intervention.

Conclusion

Poor mental health in children can cause long-lasting problems if left untreated. If a child is to reach their full potential, they need resilience and support when adversity is too overwhelming for them to manage alone. Supportive adults, friends, communities, and environments can all contribute to recovery from poor mental health.

Education in spotting early signs of potential mental health problems can enable us all to be able to support children who experience mental health issues fully.