Anxiety and depression.

Mental health problems in young children can have important implications for their development. It is important to understand the causes, symptoms, effects and best intervention practices to recognize and prevent anxiety and depression in young children.

Anxiety and depression can be hard to detect and diagnose in young children but these problems can start as young as the toddler years. Anxious or depressed children may appear very shy, tend to avoid social contacts and withdraw from or overreact to unfamiliar situations. They may exhibit intense sadness, fears and worries and have problems eating and sleeping. These problems can lead to low self-confidence, lack of social skills and risk of peer rejection as they develop. Parents and caregivers need to pay attention to these early signs in order to help children overcome the long term negative impact of emotional problems.

*How important is it? Mental health problems experienced in begin in childhood and adolescence. It is estimated that 1 in 7 children suffer from mental health problems worldwide. One of the major types of mental health issues found in childhood is internalizing problems. Internalizing problems are characterized by emotional distress turned inward, which makes these problems difficult to recognize. Unlike normal fear, shyness and sadness, internalizing problems impair a young child’s functioning and development.

Internalizing problems include depression and anxiety. Symptoms of depression in older children include feelings of sadness, eating/weight problems, sleep disturbance, loss of energy and low self-esteem. *What do we know? young children to explain how they feel. Fortunately, new innovative methods such as puppet interviews and picture tests have been used to help children express their emotions. The first signs of internalizing problems are often observed in the peer group, where depression and anxiety can manifest themselves as self-consciousness, fearfulness, preoccupation and nervousness. Children with internalizing problems often struggle with initiating contact or conversation, talk very little and make infrequent eye contact. These socially withdrawn behaviours make them more likely to be victimized by peers. The friendships of anxious or depressed children also tend to be less frequent, of poorer quality, and with children who also display internalizing problems, which can worsen existing problems. However, having at least one close friend can also protect a child from some of the detrimental effects of internalizing problems. appears to be a consistent risk in the development of internalizing problems. Children of mothers who are overprotective, overcritical or use harsh discipline tend to have poor emotion regulation skills and are more susceptible to emotional health difficulties. Parents who are themselves anxious can also put children at risk for anxiety disorders by modeling avoidant or anxious behaviours. The effects of these parenting behaviours are especially strong for children with behavioural inhibition.

Poor attachment is another risk factor for the development of anxiety and depression. *What can be done? An initial necessary step in understanding the development of childhood depression and anxiety is to expand assessment of these conditions in the clinical and research setting through multi-method, multi-session and multi-informant techniques. While including a screening for internalizing problems during standard check-ups might be ideal, targeting at risk children and families may represent a more cost-efficient and realistic method to prevent or reduce negative consequences associated with internalizing problems. For instance, accurate screening in locations where children are at risk for experiencing trauma (e.g., hospitals) or identifying children who are behaviourally inhibited at an early age can have a major impact on children, their families and society at large. *What can be done? While including a screening for internalizing problems during standard check-ups might be ideal, targeting at risk children and families may represent a more cost-efficient and realistic method to prevent or reduce negative consequences associated problems. For instance, accurate screening in locations where children are at risk for experiencing trauma (e.g., hospitals) or identifying children who are behaviourally inhibited at an early age can have a major impact on children, their families and society at large. behavioural therapy is the most common and effective method to treat anxiety and depression in childhood.focuses on helping children identify and confront their own distorted thinking habits and involves behavioural techniques that gradually expose children to anxiety-provoking situations. Play-based has been used with children as young as 4 years of age.

Involving parents in treatment is beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Mental health and Physical health.

 

Mental exercise is important because it helps determine how those new neurons are used-and how long they survive. Stress can reduce both the creation of new neurons and their lifetime, so stress management is important too.

1. Why is it so important to exercise our brains?

Our brains are composed of different areas and functions, and we can strengthen them through mental exercise- or they get atrophied for lack of practice. The benefits are both short-term (improved concentration and memory, sustained mental clarity under stressful situations…), and long-term (creation of a “brain reserve” that help protect us against potential problems )

                                                 

Factors that can affect your mental health.

1)"Loneliness is feeling sad about being by yourself, particularly over a long period of time. Isolation is being separated from other people and your environment.

Benefits of regular physical activity.

2)Grief is a natural response to loss.

3)Domestic and family violence is when you feel unsafe, powerless or afraid due to the actions of someone close to you. According to Lifeline, domestic and family violence behaviour can include.

                                                                                

4)Bullying is when a person is repeatedly and intentionally subjected to verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that causes physical and/or psychological harm.

5)Unemployment, redundancy, loss of a business, large investment losses or other financial loss can have a negative impact on your mental health.

6)A good night’s sleep is essential to our mental and physical health and wellbeing. A lack of sleep can have a major impact on our mood, concentration, memory and quality of life.Good quality sleep is about the amount of ‘deep sleep’ a person gets, not the length of sleep.

                                                                                

7) Stages of life

There are times across your life when you are more vulnerable to experiencing mental health issues. These times are related to major changes in your life or when you are transitioning from one stage of life to another, which may place extra stress on you.

8)During difficult times in life, people sometimes turn to alcohol or other drugs to help them cope. There is a strong link between alcohol and other drug use and mental health issues.

Alcohol and other drug use can impact your mental health in a number of ways. This includes:

1)affecting your mood in the longer term

2)impacting on other coping skills

3)affecting relationships

4)undermining self-esteem

5)increasing likelihood of self-harm and suicide in those at-risk.

Benefits of regular physical activity.

If you are regularly physically active,you may:

reduce your risk of a heart attack

manage your weight better

have a lower blood cholesterol level

lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers

have lower blood pressure

have stronger bones, muscles and joints and lower risk of developing osteoporosis

lower your risk of falls

recover better from periods of hospitalisation or bed rest

feel better – with more energy, a better mood, feel more relaxed and sleep better.

                                                                               

Exercise not only makes you physically fitter but it also improves your mental health and general sense of well-being.

Some physical causes (such as birth trauma, brain injury or drug abuse) can directly affect brain chemistry and contribute to mental illness. More commonly, poor physical health can affect self-esteem and people's ability to meet their goals, which leads to unhappiness or even depression.

How to deal with stress

 

* Accept your boundaries and limitations.

I learned I needed to set my limits. And to be self-aware of when I was reaching them, which meant listening to my body’s physical cues, such as fatigue, irritability, anger and excessive worry. Accepting my limitations and establishing my boundaries has significantly helped me reduce my panic. It also helps me to actually enjoy what I’m doing at any given moment.

Learn what you can handle and don't force yourself into situations that push you further than you’re comfortable being pushed. It’s okay to say no.

* Find your peace.

Most kids are loud. When you have anxiety the constant noise and activity around you can get overwhelming quickly. Seek out something to include in your daily routine that brings you peace. Whether it’s reading, crafts or a long shower, find it and make time for it every day (or as often as you can).

                                                  

* Take medication if you need to.

Taking medication is not failure. If your doctor or mental health professional suggests that you should take medication, it’s important to consider it. We live in a society where if you take medication you're often judged as having taken the 'easy way out.’ The fact is there is no easy way out of anxiety. Sometimes you need to take medication to control your symptoms so you can function. This does not make you weak or lazy, it simply means you have a condition that requires this form of treatment. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for that.

                                                     

* Allow others to help you.

Why should we need child care when I was a stay-at-home mother? That's my job, right? Looking back, it was money well spent. I needed a break. They all enjoyed the change of scenery and making friends. It was a win-win that I didn’t need to be so hard on myself about.

                                                                               

* Allotting yourself grace.

Anxiety is messy. Trying to be perfect imperfect things is something I wasted too much energy on. Forgive yourself for not meeting your own high expectations and move on. Your kids will not remember that you didn't make picture-perfect dinners. They just want your presence.

* Have animals around.

Pets have such a power to bring calm. Dog,Cat,bird,

                                                           

* Accept your bad anxiety days.

There are some days where nothing, no amount of deep breathing, music or pets will get me out of my anxiety spiral. When this happens, all you can do is accept it, adjust and don't judge yourself. When this happens to me I bow out of just about everything. It's necessary care for an illness. In hindsight, I wish I had given myself more patience and less self-criticism and negativity about having to take time for myself. We are all just doing the best we can, and you don't have to apologize for that.

@ Learn stress management techniques

It can be very difficult to communicate a sense of calm to your child when you are struggling to cope with your own anxiety. A mental health professional can help you work through methods of stress management that will suit your specific needs. As you learn to tolerate stress, you will in turn be teaching your child—who takes cues from your behavior—how to cope with situations of uncertainty or doubt.

Positive Parent-Child Relationship Important.

 

Why is a Positive Parent-Child Relationship Important?

The Parent-Child Relationship is one that nurtures the physical, emotional and social development of the child. It is a unique bond that every child and parent will can enjoy and nurture. This relationship lays the foundation for the child’s personality, life choices and overall behaviour. It can also affect the strength of their social, physical, mental and emotional health.           

                                                                        

Some of the benefits include-

1) Young children who grow with a secure and healthy attachment to their parents stand a better chance of developing happy and content relationships with others in their life.

2) A child who has a secure relationship with parent learns to regulate emotions under stress and in difficult situations.

3) Promotes the child’s mental, linguistic and emotional development.

4) Helps the child exhibit optimistic and confident social behaviours.

5) Healthy parent involvement and intervention in the child’s day-to-day life lay the foundation for better social and academic skills.

6) A secure attachment leads to a healthy social, emotional, cognitive, and motivational development. Children also gain strong problem-solving skills when they have a positive relationship with their parents.

* Positive Parenting

There is “one-size fits all” when it comes to parenting, we change and adapt as our children grow. However, following some simple positive parenting tips can help when it comes to your relationship with your child.

                                                                                 

1)Warm, loving interactions

Treat every interaction as an opportunity to connect with your child. Be a warm in your expressions, give eye connect, smile and encourage interaction.

2) Have boundaries, rules & consequences.

Children need structure and guidance. Talk to your children about

what you expect of them and make sure they understand.

3) Listen and empathise with your child.

Acknowledge your child’s feelings, show them you understand, and reassure that you are there to help them whenever they have problems.

4) Problem Solving.

Help your child to problem solve. Be a good role model and show them how to behave through your own actions. When you work with your children to find solutions they learn how to deal with difficulties in a appropriate way.

* Strengthening the Parent-Child Relationship.

Forming a connection with your child is important to developing a strong parent-child relationship. Here are some tips to help with strengthening your relationship with your children.

Play together

Play is so important to children’s development. Young children can develop many skills through the power of play. As well as it being fun and helping you develop your relationship with your child, it can help children’s language skills, emotions, creativity and social skills.

Respectful Behaviours and Language.

Each family and family member should be treated with

respect .Treating other

people with respect involves being thoughtful and

considerate, and honouring individual differences

We show respect for

others in everything we say and do. Mutual respect

between the family and the service provider can

support and nurture the service relationship, while a

lack of respect from either person can harm the

relationship.

                                                                               

* Facts and Concepts

“Respect” in familyservice provider relationships. Respectful and

supportive behaviours have been found to be one of

the most important factors in determining parents’

satisfaction with services .

Service providers and parents have

rated “respectful and supportive care” to be an aspect

of family-centred service that is done well To build on this element of

family-centred .

         

                                      

* Strategies For Using

Respectful Behaviours and

Language.

Create opportunities for respectful

communication.

Select an environment that allows you to

share information. Consider the privacy, noise

level and other potential distractions.

When sharing information back and forth, be

sure to take the time to say what you want or

need to say. Breathe deeply and speak

calmly.

Service providers: Allow time for parents to

digest all the information you have given

them. Don’t grab a parent in a busy hallway

to divulge information.

Service Providers: Share complete, honest,

and unbiased information. Avoid screening

information based on your judgements and

values

Parents: Don’t be afraid to say, “I need a few

minutes to take in what you have just told

me”. Collect your thoughts and be ready to

ask questions.

language, religion, geographic location,

income status, gender, sexual orientation,

disability, and occupation

Be aware of the cultural values that you are

bringing with you and take time to learn about

the cultures of other people .

Put away your prejudices before you sit down

with each other. See the person for who they

are and why you have come together.

                                                              

* Speak directly to the family member with the

disability.

As much as possible, include the child/youth

with a disability in the discussion and meeting.

Service providers: Acknowledge, greet, and

speak with the child/youth with a disability, as

well as the other members of the family.

Parents: Make sure you give your child an

opportunity to speak and to respond to the

service provider.

                                                                        

• Use positive “person first” language.

Always talk about the person before talking

about the disability .Avoid using phrases that suggest that the

disability has a negative effect on the person’s.

How Does Technology Affect Your Health? The Good, the Bad.

 

1)Digital eye strain.

2)Sleep problem.

3)Emostional problem

Technology appears to affect the health of children and teens.

The researchers used a broad definition of screen time that included:

television

video games.

phones

tech toys.

                                                                             

@ Effect on body and mental health.

behavioral problems

less time for play and loss of social skills

obesity

sleep problems

violence.

Younger than 18 months Avoid screen time other than video chatting.

18 to 24 months Parents and caregivers can offer high-quality programs and watch them with their children.

2 to 5 years Limit to one hour per day of supervised high-quality programming.

6 years and above Place consistent limits on time and types of media. Media shouldn’t interfere with adequate sleep, exercise, or other behaviors that affect health.

Positive effects of technology

Technology plays a role in virtually every part of our lives, whether we’re aware of it or not. These are just a few of the ways in which technology may positively affect our physical and mental health.

health apps to track chronic illnesses and communicate vital information to doctors.

health apps that help you track diet, exercise, and mental health information

online medical records that give you access to test results and allow you to fill prescriptions

virtual doctor visits

online education and ease of research

enhanced communication with others, which can improve the feeling of connection.

Importance of Healthy Self-Confidence in Students.

                                                                               

A healthy sense of self-confidence is necessary for your child to develop social skills, become more resilient, and embrace her full potential inside and outside the classroom.

What is Healthy Self-Confidence?

Self-confidence is a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgment.

A healthy sense of self-confidence is all about having a balanced view of yourself — taking pride in your abilities while recognizing your flaws.

Children with a healthy sense of self-confidence are able to feel good about themselves and know that they deserve respect from others.

The importance of self-confidence should not be underestimated, as it has been strongly linked to happiness through multiple studies.

LESS FEAR AND ANXIETY.

                                                

A tendency to mull over worries and perceived mistakes can be very damaging to your child’s academic and social life.

A higher level of self-confidence can help her avoid giving into anxiety, break out of the cycle of overthinking and embrace her full potential.

She will be able to explore new subjects, roles, and hobbies, as well as follow her ambition without worrying about how others may perceive her.

IMPROVED MOTIVATION.

                                               

Low self-confidence can make a child feel like her goals and

dreams are impossible to reach - or that she is unworthy of achieving those dreams.

These feelings will make it difficult for her to maintain a high level of dedication and motivation.

However, if you help a child build her confidence by teaching her to take small steps towards her goals, she will feel a sense of accomplishment. This sense of accomplishment will keep her moving forward when the going gets tough.

3. MORE RESILIENCE.

                                                   

Self-confidence enables students to handle setbacks with ease.

Instead of being crippled by failure, resilient children get up quickly, learn from their mistakes, and try again.

They accept that failure is a part of life and take more chances as a result - which makes them even more successful later in life.

4. IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS.

                                                   

Improving self-confidence can help children who suffer from bullying or exclusion from social groups or cliques at school.

They will enjoy social interactions more because they won’t be worried about the impression they are making.

Plus, when someone’s fully present in the moment (verses worrying and comparing herself to others), she is more likely to notice the people around her. For example, if a friend seems a little down or if someone needs help.

This immediate awareness helps a child develop a strong sense of empathy and become a person who reaches out to help others.

A STRONGER SENSE OF THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF.

                                                      

A strong sense of authenticity can be a source of power for your child.

When your child feels confident in who she is, what she stands for, and what her strengths are, she can maintain a strong sense of self-worth despite setbacks or perceived weaknesses.

Ways to Improve Self-Confidence in Students.

1. HELP THEM PRACTICE SELF-ACCEPTANCE.

Encourage your child to examine her strengths and weaknesses from a position of self-love and acceptance.

Teach her that she can address her weaknesses without being overly critical of herself.

Let her know that her worth is not dependent on her successes or failures.

2. FOCUS ON SMALL ACHIEVEMENTS.

Take some time to sit down with your child and make a list of things she has already achieved in life.

It doesn’t matter how small or large her achievements are.

Creating this list will help her develop a sense of achievement and self-confidence. 

SET MANAGEABLE GOALS.

Teach your child to set small, manageable goals when it comes to improving skills or addressing weaknesses.

Becoming comfortable with small steps can make the big steps seem far less daunting and anxiety-inducing.

4. SEEK OUT POSITIVE EXPERIENCES.

Being around critical, judgemental individuals can affect how we feel about ourselves.

Help your child surround herself with positive experiences and people to boost herself-confidence.

5. CONSIDER A REWARDS SYSTEM.

Coming up with a rewards system can be helpful for building your child’s self-esteem and confidence.

It can make a scary step or project seem much more fun and worthwhile.