This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
MENTAL HEALTH: Could your child be mentally ill? ¶
Over the past few months, many people have watched with shock and disbelief as many young children committed suicide and crimes, leaving many wondering what really is wrong with today's children.
However, the problem is not today's children, but rather what could be causing the instability. For most parents, the mere thought of their child battling a physical illness, let alone a mental sickness such as depression or schizophrenia, is a daunting reality.
According to Prof David Musymi Ndetei in his book 'Your A-Z on Mental Health', mental illness can be caused by physical conditions such as bacterial or viral infection of the brain, physical accidents, or assault to the head. Others do not have a discernible physical effect on the brain but affect by changing chemicals in the brain, leading to what is called functional mental disorders.
It is mostly the functional mental disorders that are commonly expressed by seemingly ordinary people. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, so is mental disorder an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Children can develop the same mental problems as adults, but they express them differently, as they have not yet developed the vocabulary to describe what they feel. Some of the mental disorders include mood disorders such as bi-polar disorder and depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), eating disorders, and anxiety disorders.
So, what are the red flags to watch out for? Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches, unexplained weight loss, difficulty in concentrating, self-harm, drastic behavior changes, expressing intense feelings, substance abuse, hearing or seeing things others cannot, withdrawal and sadness, and sleeping a lot more than usual.
It is essential to seek help from qualified mental health experts such as counsellors, psychiatrists, or psychologists in what is called psychotherapy and counselling. This is where a child, with the help of a qualified practitioner, learns about their condition and how to respond to the changes and challenges that come with living with a mental disorder.
By offering support to children experiencing mental disorders, we can help them accept their condition and live productive lives. This can also help to normalise mental health disorders as part of the health challenges that affect society, thereby reducing the stigma associated with suffering from a mental disorder.
Just like adults, children are vulnerable to mental illnesses. The events unfolding in the nation are a pointer that our children are troubled by issues, and it is essential to examine and offer right solutions. It is possible to live positively with a mental disorder.
By AMANI COUNSELLORS, Milly Njuguna, Prof. Christine Mutingu, and Faith Gichanga Osiro, who work at the Amani Counselling and Training Institute, which strives to promote mental health in society through clinical services, training, and tailor-made workshops and seminars.
