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For years now, October 10, has always been celebrated as World Mental Health Day. This is an international day set aside for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma.
It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health.
Therefore as the world celebrates and creates awareness around Mental Health, today we will be shining the spotlight on major causes of depression among kids. Depression is a serious illness but it’s also treatable.
Common signs and symptoms of depression include; Thoughts of death or suicide, trouble concentrating, fatigue, Changes in Sleep patterns, social withdrawal, anger, continuous sadness, and feelings of unworthiness among others.
Depressive symptoms are the most common mental disorder among adolescents, and its prevalence has been increasing in recent years.
Childhood maltreatment is a contributing factor to depressive symptoms among adolescents.
In a scenario where parents do not care about the well-being of their children - only give instructions and endless pieces of advice without knowing what they are passing through greater harm happens.
Children in such scenarios hide a lot from their parents to an extent of getting depressed and some end up taking their own lives.
Two years ago, an 11-year-old child committed suicide on his mother’s birthday as a birthday gift to his mother.
He left a letter that read;
“On today’s special day, I want you to be the happiest ever every day you used to say that happiness left your life the day I was born you told me dad left because of me so today, I want to change things. I want you to be very happy and live as if I never existed. You told me you would never look at me with love but I always loved you and admired you as the best mom on earth. I hope one day you will think of me.
Parents should be very careful about what they say to their kids - words cut deeper than a dagger.
Some parents got their firstborn unprepared and unwilling to take on the responsibilities of parenthood according to the book of psalm 127 :3
“Children are a gift from the Lord they are a reward from him,” We as parents should treat our children as gifts. That’s why when some grow up in a good environment and parenthood they end up helping their families
Unemployment can also cause an increase in child neglect because parents have more limited access to the resources required to provide for a child’s basic needs, such as clothing, food, and medical care.
These children who are found to be under this category find themselves taking drugs at a tender age, thinking that drugs will help them reduce stress but in the long run they mess up their own lives.
Some end up as street children and forget about their families.
It is important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors.
When the demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.
It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
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