The year is 2011 and the World Health Organisation expects that by 2020, mental health problems in children will increase by a staggering 50% compared with other health issues.
Stress caused by the demands of our rapidly changing lifestyles is the main cause of this startling statistic. The reality is that young people who are sad, angry or depressed are not capable of reaching their true academic potential due to learning, memory and attention span being directly influenced by uncontrolled emotions.
So, how serious is the issue of depression in children actually? Currently, one in five children has a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioural disorder and up to one in 10 may suffer from a serious emotional disturbance. (National Mental Health Association)
Every parent wants a healthy, well-balanced child who is able to make good choices and develop into a successful adult. However, we need to consider that even the intentions of the best parents in the world may be sabotaged by the many toxic influences our future generation is faced with on a daily basis.
When your child’s total stress load is high enough to interfere with their brain's Happy Messengers, then their Body Clock is going to stop working. You will find your child having difficulty falling asleep, and frequent awakenings during the night, perhaps with vivid dreams. Next, you will note their lack of energy and lack of desire to get out and do things as well as a lack of interest in the outside world. After that, you will hear complaints about aches and pains. Particularly common are chest, shoulder, back and neck pains. When all of these symptoms coincide--lack of sleep, fatigue, aches and pains—your child may feel overwhelmed by life. This may result in crying spells or at the extreme end, depression.
Never underestimate the fact that your child may be suffering from overstress which is a leading cause of depression. We might expect that children experiencing extreme stress due to events such as divorce or abuse might be at risk, but even children who seem to have a "perfect" life can suffer from depression. Children with an inherited tendency towards depression have a low tolerance for stress. What might seem inconsequential to an adult could easily trigger depression in these children. A myth exists which says that childhood is always a happy, carefree time in our lives. The truth is, depression is a biologically-based illness and children can fall prey to it just like adults. Unlike adults, however, they may not be able to verbalise or articulate what they are feeling and ask for help.
EQual Zeal® promotes positive internal growth by offering innovative self development resources, workshops and programmes designed to give children and their parents a powerful toolkit for dealing with a fast-paced and ever-changing world. This empowers young people to reach their full potential, through having the skills to deal with stress and to curb potential depressive episodes before they occur. What our children need is to express greater self confidence, have a greater sense of self awareness and the ability to withstand the pressures of modern society by managing stress in a positive way. This is the key to beating depression!
We look forward to being of assistance. Should you have any questions relating to depression or anxiety in your child, mail info@equalzeal.com or visit www.equalzeal.com |
