Be Aware of Children's Mental Health Issues

[N'Zinga Shani]

OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc Presents: May 3-9 was Children's Mental Health Awareness Week.  Unfortunately, the blog did not post (technical glitch I guess) However, there is much adults can do to help children relieve stress.

Of course, we should think of children’s mental health daily.  But in our busy world the powers that be have designated one week when we should do something to focus our time and energy on Children’s Mental Health.  At OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc we strive to bring the Greater New Haven community information on all essential aspects of health care, including on various aspects of Children’s Mental Health.  Of course, we make the information available; we cannot force people to accept it, or to even pay attention.  Most often, if we are attentive harm can be prevented.  If we are attentive, early intervention can help greatly.  Good mental health is essential to well-being at every stage of life.  Our pre-teens and adolescents are particularly vulnerable; they need caring and attentive adults to be very actively involved in their lives at all times.  What we sometimes dismiss as pre-teen or teenage jitters may be the beginning of something far more serious. We need to ask questions. We need to provide reassurance to our children that they will be fine. Quite often the problems affecting children are also affecting the entire family; therefore, it is difficult for the adults to see what is happening to the children. Everyone needs a support system; this is where friends and family can play a key role.

“There are as many misconceptions about teen depression as there are about teenagers in general. Yes, the teen years are tough, but most teens balance the requisite angst with good friendships, success in school or outside activities, and the development of a strong sense of self.

Occasional bad moods or acting out is to be expected, but depression is something different. Depression can destroy the very essence of a teenager’s personality, causing an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, or anger.”

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/teen-depression-signs-...

In this our land of plenty, great affluence, and great waste, there are thousands of children who go without some basics; they live in deplorable physical and mental condition; they are abused by many who are entrusted with their care. Sometimes within their own families children are treated as being inconveniences; they are insightful; they know when they are not wanted and they behave accordingly.

Children are sometimes taken out of homes where they have been neglected and placed in foster homes where they are abused. In some foster homes children are a source of income; nothing more. There is no love or sincere caring; psychological evaluation is Pro Forma.  The system of mental health care for poor children, for some immigrant, and for some children of color, leaves much to be desired. Why is that? Children’s Mental Health is not something that immediately comes to mind for many.  Of course, we react with horror when we read about the child who has been found dead; the child who was molested and abused and ran away at age 12.  Most likely that child had been abused all of his her young life.  The running away happened at age 12 because it was only then that the child figured out how to run away. We only need to look as far as our Juvenile Justice system to see how badly we treat children and why we have so many children with poor mental health.  Look around you this week; how many children do you see hanging out late; they don’t seem to go in for dinner.  Say hello, but above all make sure that your own children know that they can come and talk to you about any issues of concern they have.  OneWorld's Teen Center has a number of positive suggestions for young people: http://www.oneworldpi.org/teen_center.html

https://youtu.be/R1muw9UTBzg Profiling Clifford Beers Clinic – Mental Health for Children

CDC - Child Development, Children's Mental Health.

Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.

What are childhood mental disorders?

The term childhood mental disorder means all mental disorders that can be diagnosed and begin in childhood. Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions.
Some examples of childhood mental disorders are:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Behavior disorders
• Mood and anxiety disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Tourette Syndrome

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/mentalhealth.html

Being A Girl In CT’s Juvenile Justice System – Read the article linked below. This story highlights some of the problem in America’s JJ System.  We will learn how some children develop mental health illness and how distressing the lives of some children can be. http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2015/04/26/richard_ross_photographs_girls_in_the_juvenile_justice_system_in_his_book.html

OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc., is a small group of committed volunteers who produce community information and education television programs on health literacy, education and civic engagement.  We also find good information and post informative blogs about issues we believe shine light and are beneficial to many in our communities.  Learn more about us at our web site: www.oneworldpi.org/  and visit our Civic Engagement section at: http://www.oneworldpi.org/civic_engagement/index.html We are about Civic Engagement & Public Good.

OneWorld’s YouTube is here: http://goo.gl/jkPaiQ And Face Book is here: http://goo.gl/8v19VB

Please share our information with others.  Watch our informative television programs on your public access channels: Frontier (formerly AT&T), Channel 99, drop down; Charter Communications Chan. 21, and Comcast (Xfinity) Channels 10, 15, 18 & 26.

[N'Zinga Shani]

Mental health in childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.