There are two major learning sources in children’s lives which include school and home. Students not only learn from their parents but also from teachers. Therefore, a healthy and productive school environment is extremely significant for the child’s mental health. Otherwise, a toxic environment can cause various mental health disorders. After reading this article, you will surely know that can school help my child’s mental health. Moreover, you will also understand how schools affect mental health.
How can schools help with mental health?
A healthy environment in the school is vital for effective child development. As children spend more time in school after home, a productive and calm atmosphere matters a lot. Parents and teachers should remain in coordination so their children can learn and grow in a positive environment. Schools are the best source to spread awareness regarding mental health issues. Effective campaigns should be developed to raise concerns regarding mental illnesses. Teachers should act as mental health experts, so the students feel secure. Their positive behaviour can also boost the confidence of children, so they can easily share their thoughts and emotions. Children at an early age can easily learn and can alter their minds. So teachers can better influence their minds with their positive learning strategies. Teachers can perfectly analyze the mental state of students and can devise strategies accordingly.
How teachers assist the children in overcoming mental issues?
Toddlers usually face more difficulties as they have less verbal expressivity. Most of the time, their health issues are usually avoided by their teachers or parents. So if the child is showing any weird behaviour, close persons should be aware of that. Teachers should be familiar with all the signs and symptoms of different mental illnesses. Teachers should remain in more coordination with sensitive children.
They can provide them extra care by shifting their seat to the front row. If the child is showing any hostile or aggressive behaviour, teachers should take immediate steps to overcome the situation. Instead of scolding them, they should treat them with care and love. Children always seek love and concern, so they can become calm even after intense behaviour. Children of different ages are affected by mental illness. Various studies estimated that mental disorders majorly affect children in their teenage years. Among them, 90% of the children don’t receive the effective treatment.
Students suffering from mental disorders are unable to pay attention to their academics. Therefore, they fail to get good marks. However, if their mental issues are left untreated, they can experience more complications in their later life.
Mental health issues in teenagers
Different studies are conducted to find the answer to the most asked question can school help my child’s mental health? Approximately 21% of US teenagers suffer from mental health disorders. Different mental health issues are also common in children. However, teenagers are usually more prone to several mental health disorders. The most common mental abnormalities include:
Anxiety
Anxiety is a common but serious mental disorder. It involves the body’s response to a stressful situation. Anxiety can affect both children and adults. However, various mental disorders also involve the onset of anxiety disorder symptoms.
Depression
If the period of anxiety is extended, then it can result in depression. A depressed person always prefers to adopt isolation. Moreover, a lack of interest and intense feelings of hopelessness is also common in depression.
ADHD
ADHD is a common behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Children suffering from ADHD are unable to pay attention to their essential life tasks.
Read More: How Can Neurofeedback Treat Anxiety?
Bipolar disorders
Bipolar disorder involves extreme alterations in the mood. Intense mood swings can result the undesired episodes of extreme sadness as well as extreme pleasure or excitement.
Persistent depressive disorder
As the name suggests, this involves prolonged depression. Persistent depressive disorder is also referred to as dysthymia. The extent of symptoms is also different as compared to the normal depression. Furthermore, they can last for years.
Conduct Disorder
Conduct Disorder is a more severe behavioural disorder. Children with conduct disorder exhibit intense anger and emotions. Moreover, they can also indulge in different criminal activities. All the behavioural disorders not only affect the child’s health but can also impart adverse effects on the entire life.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
As the name indicates, this disorder can result from any traumatic life situation. Any distressing event that occurred in childhood can lead to this disorder.
Obsessive Compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves repeated obsessions. This disorder is more common in children. Affected individuals usually desire irrelevant things but in a repeated manner.
Eating disorders
All mental health issues are not just limited to the state of the mind. Instead of this, various mental disorders can also affect the physical condition of the body. Eating disorders result when young children utilise food to cope with their emotions and thoughts. Moreover, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge disorder and various other mental disorders are also common. Eating disorders disturb the eating patterns of individuals. Furthermore, anorexia nervosa leads to weight gain due to overeating. On the other hand, persons suffering from bulimia nervosa usually experience drastic weight loss. They overestimate their body weight and restrict the eating process. However, both conditions can lead to malnutrition.
Psychosis
Psychosis is a severe mental condition that makes it difficult for a person to interpret reality. Persons suffering from psychiatric conditions are unable to differentiate between the imaginary world and reality. Different behavioural disorders can result the psychotic conditions, which adversely affect perceptions and thoughts.
Causes of mental health
Several factors support the fact that can school help my child’s mental health. However, in most of the cases, a combination of factors are directly linked with the onset of mental illnesses.
Some common factors that can trigger mental health issues include:
- Professional issues
- Harsh domestic environment
- Addiction to toxic drugs or alcohol
- Prolong stress or depression
- Childhood abuse
- Head injury or trauma
- Lack of attention from loved ones
- Continuous rejection from society
- Unhealthy diet
- Bad lifestyle habits
Mental health awareness in schools
Cognitive health education is extremely significant. Mental health education in schools can create a safe environment for both teachers and students. Schools are considered the first destination to spot any emotional or behavioural dysregulation in children. If the school environment is not strict, then it can lead to a reduced rate of depression. Moreover, a positive culture always prioritises the importance of everyone. Both teachers and students consider their worth and contribute equally.
Collaboration between parents and teachers
A healthy collaboration between the teachers and parents is also useful for the well-being of students. Regular parent-teacher meetings assist the parents to remain aware of their children’s health. In this way, students can then cherish both academically and emotionally. Furthermore, teachers should also help the parents in self-learning for their children. Just like school, parents should also conduct healthy activities at home. Parents should also consider those policies that are implemented at school.
Can school affect mental health?
Schools have a direct link with the mental health of children. You will get familiar with the can school cause mental health issues. Various studies have reported that 80% of students experience bad mental due to multiple stress factors in school. Academic stress is the main leading factor that can cause mental health struggles in students. Moreover, students love to sit at their home instead of going to school. However, on the other hand, students with normal mental states feel pleasure in going to school. They also participate in extracurricular activities that make them mentally more strong. Moreover, the likelihood of students suffering from mental illness is the same in both toxic school and home environments. Different types of academic stress are involved in developing mental issues such as:
- Continuous fear of failure
- Challenging school work
- Pressure to balance school and social life
- The presence of toxic friends in school
- Strict teachers
- Reduced sleep due to academic stress
- Examination stress
A higher level of education can cause better mental health. Students of higher classes have a better awareness of mental health issues. If the high school teachers are professional and skilled, then students can effectively learn productive things. Moreover, high school students can make better decisions as compared to junior school students. Similarly, the status of schools can also affect mental health.
However, an unhealthy school environment can lead to various disadvantages such as:
Loss of enthusiasm
Prolonged stress or depression can also affect the personality traits of children. Due to academic stress, students feel a loss of interest and passion in their studies, Moreover, they feel pleasure in directing their minds towards useless activities. They usually avoid school events or competitions due to reduced passion. Furthermore, such students think that they are not capable of facing life’s challenges.
Reduced Social engagement
A student suffering from anxiety, depression or any mental disorder is usually introverted. However, parents or teachers don’t recognize their mental state. Still, some institutes consider poor academic records as a diagnostic factor. Moreover, such students even take the stress of just thinking about their classes or exams.
Why strong mental health is important?
It is definite that can school help my child’s mental health. A child with a stronger mental health can better compete in the environment. Moreover, strong mental health is also important to recognize innate abilities. Students with sound mental health can achieve excellence in every aspect of their lives. They can opt the all life opportunities and extract the best outcomes. Furthermore, they can also develop better and healthier relationships.
How to help your child with mental illness?
There are various useful ways through which you can assist your child to overcome the harmful effects of mental disorders. By reading the below-mentioned points, you will know how to help your child with mental health issues.
Become their first instructor
Children take the first lessons from their parents. So parents should utilize productive coping strategies against different environmental stress factors. If you are showing your calm behaviour even against harsh conditions, then your children will also mimic your behaviour. It’s not necessary that you have to forcefully acquire sound mental health, your expressions are enough for their best learning. Parents should share their feelings and thoughts with theur children. Moreover, parents should also guide their children on how to overcome adverse life situations.
Awareness regarding mental issues
Most parents remain aware of what their child is feeling. Mental illness in children is somehow different from that in teens. Therefore the effect and behaviour also vary. Moreover, most parents are unable to distinguish the depression, behavioural disorder or any other cognitive issue. Therefore, the awareness of parents regarding mental disorders is extremely important. If a child is suddenly showing any weird behaviour, then parents should immediately consider the emerging situation. Instead of taking strict steps, they should show more love to them. Some common signs of mental disorders that parents should consider include:
- Sudden isolation from society
- Persistent anger
- Complications in doing productive things
- Reduced appetite
- Fear of without any apparent reason
Feel them secured
Parents should be open to teaching different life lessons through different life scenarios or examples. Friendly and cool cooperative behaviour will assist your child in sharing life challenges. You can discuss with them by asking about anyone who is suffering from any mental health disorder. In this way, your child will learn that mental issues are quite common and there is nothing wrong with them. Ultimately, they will not bother with the tough life situations and will smartly overcome them.
Read More: What Is A Medication Management Psychiatrist’s Role?
Talk therapy
Talk therapy is also known as cognitive therapy or behavioural therapy. This therapy is highly advantageous in addressing various mental health concerns. When a child interacts with the psychologist, then they can better discuss their underlying issues. Moreover, they can play games and share their fear or stress factors. You can also take advantage of telepsychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Medication
Physicians can also recommend certain medications based on the condition. Antidepressants are used to treat anxiety or depression. Similarly, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic disorders and different stimulants are also used.
Mental health exercises
Physical workouts are also helpful in improving the health. A daily 15 to 20-minute exercise is not only good for the body but also the soul. Various exercises can enhance brain activity, such as:
Soothing music
Most of the people believe that listening to soft music can heal the soul.
Power pose
A power pose is a specialised body posture that not only strengthens the body muscles but also the mind.
Concluding Remarks
If the children are mentally active and healthy, then they can live better. Therefore, school environments play a significant role in developing a better state of mind. Just like parents, teachers should also pay attention to the children. Moreover, this is an absolute fact that can school help my child’s mental health. However, if your child is suffering from any mental disorder, then get help from our experts. All mental health experts at the Brainpower wellness Institute are highly professional and provide top-notch mental health services.
