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The Realities and Barriers Surrounding Children’s Mental Health Background The mental health of children is becoming a greater concern of professionals who work with children. While the physical health and safety of children has been focused on, it has become more evident that children’s mental and emotional status has a profound impact on their overall well-being. It is important for parents and those who provide care for children to be educated and have information made available to them on the mental health of young children. What is Mental Health? Mental health includes the way we feel, think, and act in everyday our situations. Peoples’ mental health status can move from good to bad throughout their life time, and most people experience mental health problems at some point. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services, reports that at least one in five children and adolescents experience mental health problems at any given time. Further, an estimate of two thirds of all young people with mental health problems who need help are not getting it! Some families fear the way others will think of them or treat them if they seek help for a mental health issue. In addition, there is often a lack of information on mental health available to families and those who care for children, resulting in misconceptions about children’s behavior and conditions going unnoticed and untreated. Mental health problems come in many categories, including: anxiety disorders, behavior disorders, depressive disorders, eating disorders, learning disabilities, Enuresis and Encopresis, and childhood schizophrenia. Many children can go through periods of emotional stress that would benefit from temporary help and may not be a "diagnosable" mental health problem. At the same time, one out of ten young people experience serious emotional disturbances that greatly disrupt their functioning in school, at home, or in the community. When your child has a high fever, it is often evident that you should seek medical help. Detecting a mental health issue is not as easy. The causes of mental health problems can be from a variety of factors in a child’s life, including both biological and environmental factors. Those who have and who care for young children need to know that a child’s behavior may be signaling for help. The reverse side of this article gives specific warning signs to look for when professional help may be needed. Nurturing Children’s Mental Health Looking on the bright side, we can take steps to enhance the emotional well-being of our children. We must first understand children’s development and have appropriate expectations of them. It is important to encourage children’s talents, focus on their strengths, and show confidence in their abilities. Adults can provide an open atmosphere and encourage children to express their feelings in a positive, non-violent manner. Families and child care providers can work together to foster mental and emotional health, detect when problems are present, and access mental health services when needed for children and their families. Healthy Child Care Wyoming can help provide information on children’s mental health to child care providers and families of children in care through The Healthy Child Care Wyoming Web Site, newsletter articles, and through child care health consultants. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Healthy Child Care - Wyoming |
