Why are so many children facing mental health difficulty these days?

13-year-old Anjali had always gotten excellent grades, but she had already been expelled from two schools. She has missed the last 1.5 years of school due to her refusal to attend a new school and frequent tantrums. Her previous schools reported that she misbehaved with both staff and students.

After a few therapy sessions, Anjali’s parents took her to a psychiatrist, where they discovered she was struggling with gender identity. Sitting around girls made her feel uncomfortable and ashamed of her feminine appearance.

Priya, 12, is being raised by her aunt and uncle after losing both her parents to Covid-19. She started missing meals and her teachers were complaining that she couldn’t control her anger. Her enthusiasm for studies faded. She was taken to a therapist by her aunt and uncle. Priya admitted to the counselor that she had frequent suicidal thoughts.

Neha, 13, was so upset about being taken to school that she refused to go even though her parents realized she needed help. After seeing her, the therapist discovered that the teenager was a victim of cyberbullying.

Psychiatrists in Mumbai have reported that in the last five years, the number of anxious students has increased. The three examples above are very fortunate because parents and guardians reached out for help before it was too late.

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According to experts, parents and teachers may ignore a child’s cries for help until it’s too late, and mental illness and depression in children and adolescents are often overlooked.

According to a 2019 report by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bengaluru, one in five teenagers in India has some form of mental illness. The sample survey consisted of mostly male adolescent families from metropolitan backgrounds. They engaged in risky behaviors including drug abuse, unprotected sex and speeding and were found to have frequent arguments with their relatives and

Mental health causes due to following:

Childhood anxiety can last a lifetime

Many things can cause anxiety in children, and they often do. Many children develop anxiety in their early years, so some anxiety is a natural part of growing up. Things become challenging when these concerns don’t go away or have a painful background to them.

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Dr. Sanjay Kumawat, a consultant psychiatrist and sexologist at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, Mumbai, says that anxiety in teenagers is complicated. “That includes complex trauma presentations such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or forgetfulness or memory loss related to a specific event.”

Pediatrician Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai. “It’s a myth that it only happens to adults,” adds Sanjeev Ahuja. Children are more sensitive and their minds are more sensitive. Without timely therapy or medication to manage childhood anxiety, it can often last a lifetime.

Dr. According to Kumawat, children who experience anxiety may experience a decline in their academic performance as well as physical symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness and stomach upset. Of course, not every child with anxiety has the same symptoms. Anjali, for example, excels academically. Dr. Kumawat, the doctor treating the boy says that the young man has a very high IQ and is not a slow learner.

Treatment with and without medication

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“We deal with many cases involving children, even teenagers. Dr. Kumawat explains, “I see about eight to ten patients a week, at least one or two of whom require immediate hospitalization.

Hospitalization, of course, is advised only in certain circumstances. Dr. Consultant Psychiatrist of Fortis Hospital Kalyan, Mumbai. “Counseling and other treatment options can often help manage mild anxiety,” says Fabian Almeida.When anxiety is moderately to severely affecting daily life, medication may be necessary. In at least fifteen cases a week I have seven to eight children dealing with significant anxiety issues,” he adds.

Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospital, Pune. According to Vrishali Bichkar, counseling is an important component of treatment. “Young people can benefit from counseling to help them manage their anxiety.Another therapeutic technique to help youth calm down is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. But if no other methods work, CBT is the last resort. She adds, “Parents should help their children engage in activities that they like or are interested in.

Dr. Kumawat is treating Anjali without drugs. We are working on her anger, anxiety and temperament. Individual and family counseling is used instead of medication to achieve this. The treatment will continue for at least six to nine months until we admit her to school and the teachers approve her, he says.

Social media, Covid-19 are possible triggers

Public health may require epidemics and therefore lockdowns. However, this had a terrible impact on the mental health of people, especially children.

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A sharp increase in anxiety, avoidance and clinical depression caused by the epidemic has left many children and young people feeling isolated, hopeless and helpless. Psychologist Dr. Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai. According to Forum Matalia, our bodies are not designed to be inactive and lack of exercise exacerbates these problems.

Even without an epidemic, there are still issues with the direction society is heading, especially with regard to children’s mental health. Hiranandani Hospital Dr. According to Ahuja, increasing use of social media and peer pressure to excel in sports, academics, appearance and other fields has increased anxiety and depression among children and teenagers.

Dr. Like Bichkar, there are other factors outside of the epidemic that affect youth mental health. “A major contributing factor to adolescent anxiety is the fear of growing up and taking responsibility.”Many children are living robotic lives of their parents or other adults, always working to support their families, fulfilling their own ambitions. “They are convinced that life is more burden than joy,” the speaker continues, as they see such mechanical existence around them.

According to Almeida, not only society. “There is more to anxiety than just mental illness. Since genetics is involved in over 40% of cases, a person’s genetic makeup can be very important in these conditions.Show Quotes
A sharp increase in anxiety, avoidance and clinical depression caused by the epidemic has left many children and young people feeling isolated, hopeless and helpless. Psychologist Dr. Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai. According to Forum Matalia, our bodies are not designed to be inactive and lack of exercise exacerbates these problems.

Even without an epidemic, there are still issues with the direction society is heading, especially with regard to children’s mental health. Hiranandani Hospital Dr. According to Ahuja, increasing use of social media and peer pressure to excel in sports, academics, appearance and other fields has increased anxiety and depression among children and teenagers.

Dr. Like Bichkar, there are other factors outside of the epidemic that affect youth mental health. “A major contributing factor to adolescent anxiety is the fear of growing up and taking responsibility.”Many children are living robotic lives of their parents or other adults, always working to support their families, fulfilling their own ambitions. “They are convinced that life is more burden than joy,” the speaker continues, as they see such mechanical existence around them.

According to Almeida, not only society. “There is more to anxiety than just mental illness. Since genetics is involved in over 40% of cases, a person’s genetic makeup can be very important in these conditions.

What can educators and families do in light of the ever-increasing numbers? Most psychiatrists and therapists advise that it is important to treat children with respect and not ignore behavioral problems in youth. Furthermore, it is important to promote mobility, participate in outdoor activities and maintain high endorphin levels, Dr. Matalia.