Mental health problems in young children and adolescents are common, ranging from 7% of children to 22% of teenagers (European commission 2003). They affect the functioning of the young person and are frequently associated with school failure, impaired peer relationships, work and interpersonal difficulties and may also lead to increased involvement with police, legal, mental health and social services in adulthood.
Mental health is the emotional and spiritual resilience which enables us to enjoy life and to survive pain, disappointment and sadness (Health education authority 1998). Young people go through various stages that affected emotional development (infancy (0-2 yrs), early childhood (2-5 yrs), middle childhood (6-11 yrs) and adolescence (12-18 yrs)). During transitional times, children and young people may be more vulnerable to environmental adversity; this increases the need to be more vigilant and aware.
In some children the process of emotional differentiation (expressing the nuances of their emotions eg. between ‘slightly irritated’ and ‘fuming mad’) may be poor. It is not unusual to meet children who are emotionally illiterate, who cannot identify more than a limited number of feelings such as sad, happy, angry and afraid. The inability to understand and express their emotions adequately leads to difficulties in problem solving and can result in mental health problems (e.g. depression, self-harm, even suicide) in the long run.
Therefore it is vital that children are raised in a supportive manner, allowing them to express all their emotions (good and bad) and help them problem-solve how to manage them efficiently in a socially appropriate manner.
by Sylvia Milford