Common Causes Of Mental Health Problems In Children

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Now more than ever parents and caregivers need to be aware of their child’s mental health as well as their physical health. The Covid-19 pandemic hit everyone hard, especially children and adolescents. This was because they had to have quite a significant amount of time off school, not only missing out on structure to their day but not seeing their friends for months on end.

There are lots of problems that can cause children and young people to suffer from mental health complications and we will take a look at some of them below.

Parental Split

There are lots of families that go through a separation at some point and it can be hard for everyone involved. It can be really tough on children who have always seen their parents together working as a team starting to do things alone.

It can be extremely testing times when your child’s time is split between two households and it may take some time for them to adjust to this new setup. Providing constant reassurance and putting on a united front with the other parent will show your child that there is nothing to worry about.

Abuse

If you notice that your child is becoming withdrawn and isolated then there may be something bigger to worry about. Abuse can be extremely stressful for children to deal with as they don’t quite know how to process what is happening.

Abused children can go one of two ways usually, they can be incredibly quiet and introverted or their behavior can become quite severe and they can be known to lash out. They may also lie about it due to the fear of not being believed, this is quite common amongst victims especially if the perpetrator has threatened them.

Quite a lot of abuse victims find themselves suffering from a number of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, and even bipolar. Bipolar disorder in children is something that needs to be recognized as soon as possible so they can get on the road to recovery.

Bullying

If your child is of school-age and you suddenly notice that they are more ill and refusing to attend school then questions need to be asked as to why. Bullying is not tolerated these days and you will find that schools have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and bullies.

However, this is quite often downplayed and it is a case of proof being needed or it didn’t happen. Bullying can happen in a number of ways, especially in this day and age with all the social media platforms children have access to. They could even be getting bullied in person during school or after school.

Cyber bullying is more common than anyone realizes at around a whopping 40% of cases that are reported, this figure could be much higher as incidences often go unreported.

We hope this article gave you some insight into common childhood mental health problems. Remember, if you suspect your child needs some help, support, or guidance then don’t hesitate to talk to them.

Children will open up much more if they feel understood and listened to. Alternatively, if you are struggling to get anywhere then contact your doctor or mental health support team. They should never be left to suffer through it alone as this can lead to much worse scenarios.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.