Prioritize Your Children and Teenagers Mental Health

This is a short message for everyone with children and teenagers to ‘wake up’ and face the reality of our times. Children and teenagers also have mental health issues which must be taken care of to avoid the rising rate of mental health-related problems. Unicef in a recent report on a survey conducted, reveals that “data from the survey reveals that young people in Nigeria are facing a mental health challenge, with 1 in 6 young Nigerians aged 15 -24 saying they often feel depressed, have little interest in doing things, or are worried, nervous or anxious.”

This is not to scare anyone but to make you realise that it is time to discard the initial thought or belief that children and teens don’t have mental health issues like adults and begin to do more to provide them with the needed emotional and mental support just the way you do with finance, academics, spiritual, physical etc.

The cases of children and teenagers either running away from home, self-harming, contemplating suicide or having attempted suicide is on the rise and need to be addressed urgently starting from the home. The recent case of the ND 1 Marketing student of YabTech is one of the many cases that should prompt us to action.

Here are a few things you should do:

1. Be more involved in their lives and available for them when needed.

2. Listen and probe more.

3. Don’t ignore any suspicious signs of distress.

4. Early professional counselling is important.

5. Check on them regularly.

6. Use assuring words.

7. Make the home a safe space for them.

8. Correct when a mistake is made but don’t dwell on it forever.

9. Don’t expect too much from them or pressure them into making irrational choices or decisions.

10. Seek professional help when you are overwhelmed.

11. Support and make them feel loved and wanted.

12. Appreciate their small and big achievements.

13. Avoid baseless comparisons.

Let’s start prioritizing the children’s and teenagers’ emotional and mental health needs.