Behavioural changes in children can indicate that they need to see a psychiatrist
| Feb 19, 2019, 16:16 IST
It's no secret that mental health disorders have been on the rise amongst children and teenagers. And what may seem like Monday blues or little tantrums, could actually turn out to be something much worse. Parents these days are struggling to understand whether their child is suffering from a mental illness and this is why most children are unable to receive the proper care that they need.
A new study has now found that children who have been brought up in the age of the Internet actually suffer from mental illnesses almost six times more often than they used to in the past. Talking about these problems, a psychiatrist said, "Unlike adults who can identify and communicate about their problems, children struggle to identify, and if they do, there is a struggle to express it because of various reasons. The symptoms of mental illness among children are very different from adults for the same clinical conditions. The frequent mental health conditions observed in child and adolescent population are anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, mood disorders, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders etc."
The doctor also added that parents who try to Google the symptoms of such issues end up getting more worried and panicking about the situation. He suggested that parents should be on a lookout for behavioural changes in their children such as temper tantrums, poor social engagement, outbursts over trivial issues, no interest in playing, difficulty in concentration, poor academic performance and frequently being absent from school or college.
"Sometimes, children exhibit signs of distress through their interaction on virtual platforms by penning their thoughts of anxiety, fear, suicidal and relationship complications through their posts. It is important that parents engage with their children, actively listen to the problems, instil confidence by being non-judgmental, and finally seek professional help when required," the doctor concluded.
A new study has now found that children who have been brought up in the age of the Internet actually suffer from mental illnesses almost six times more often than they used to in the past. Talking about these problems, a psychiatrist said, "Unlike adults who can identify and communicate about their problems, children struggle to identify, and if they do, there is a struggle to express it because of various reasons. The symptoms of mental illness among children are very different from adults for the same clinical conditions. The frequent mental health conditions observed in child and adolescent population are anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, mood disorders, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders etc."
The doctor also added that parents who try to Google the symptoms of such issues end up getting more worried and panicking about the situation. He suggested that parents should be on a lookout for behavioural changes in their children such as temper tantrums, poor social engagement, outbursts over trivial issues, no interest in playing, difficulty in concentration, poor academic performance and frequently being absent from school or college.
"Sometimes, children exhibit signs of distress through their interaction on virtual platforms by penning their thoughts of anxiety, fear, suicidal and relationship complications through their posts. It is important that parents engage with their children, actively listen to the problems, instil confidence by being non-judgmental, and finally seek professional help when required," the doctor concluded.