Child Mental Health IS Health.
The evolution of mental health in the lives of our children and teens seems to be aligning with the ever-increasing challenges and pressures that our kids are facing in modern society. Mental health is health and it warrants being held in the same regard as our children's physical health & safety.
Prevalence of mental health concerns among our youth
~ 1 in 5 children in Ontario experience mental health issues
~ 70% of mental health conditions have an onset in childhood or adolescence
~ 17% of children in early childhood aged 2-5 meet diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder
The world is even less kind to our kids as it relates to their roles as students...
A recent survey completed by the American Psychological Association indicated that teenagers are the most stressed and anxious population, with 83% of this group identifying school as their primary source of stress.
Recent research on the topic of mental health risks to students indicated that trips to pediatric emergency mental health facilities are 118% higher during the school year compared to periods when school is not in session. This statistic is observed not only during summer breaks but also during multi-day breaks held throughout the school year.
Ontario universities began planning prevention strategies just a handful of years ago after observing the same influxes in mental health crises among students due to stress and course workload. The fall reading week break began being implemented by most Ontario universities from 2013 on after suicide rates were observed to be increasing among post-secondary students.
It is imperative that we are equipped with the knowledge and know-how to best support our youth with an increase in mental health rates and risks lurking along the path of their developmental trajectories.
Anxiety
~Observations of anxiety in their children is endorsed by 1/2 of parents in Ontario
~62% of Ontario youth report having concerns about their level of anxiety while only 1 in 3 have ever spoken to a mental health professional about their mental health concerns
When a child does not outgrow the fears and worries that are typical in young children, or when there are so many fears and worries that they interfere with school, home, or play activities, the child may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Examples of observations of different types of anxiety include:
Being very afraid when away from parents (separation anxiety)
Having extreme fear about a specific thing or situation, such as dogs, insects, or going to the doctor (phobias)
Being very afraid of school and other places where there are people (social anxiety)
Being very worried about the future and about bad things happening (general anxiety)
Having repeated episodes of sudden, unexpected, intense fear that come with symptoms like heart pounding, having trouble breathing, or feeling dizzy, shaky, or sweaty (panic disorder)
Anxiety-based symptoms can also often include:
worry, irritability, anger
trouble sleeping
physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches are often most observable with those children who keep their worries to themselves.
Depression
~Today, by the age of 19, approximately 1 in 10 (up to 12%) will experience a major depressive episode
~The total number of Canadian 12-19 year olds at risk for developing depression is 3.2 million youth
Occasionally being sad or feeling hopeless is a part of every child’s life. However, some children feel sad or uninterested in things that they used to enjoy, or feel helpless or hopeless in situations they are able to change. When children feel persistent sadness and hopelessness, they may be diagnosed with depression.
Examples of observations often seen in children with depression include:
Feeling sad, hopeless, or irritable a lot of the time
Withdrawal, not wanting to do or enjoy doing fun things
Showing changes in eating patterns – eating a lot more or a lot less than usual
Showing changes in sleep patterns – sleeping a lot more or a lot less than normal
Showing changes in energy – being tired and sluggish or tense and restless a lot of the time
Having a hard time paying attention
Feeling worthless, useless, or guilty
Displaying self-injury and self-destructive behaviour
Extreme depression can lead a child to think about suicide or plan for suicide.
Suicide
~Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Canadians aged 10-24 years of age, second only to accidents.
~Canada's youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world.
There are certain things people who are thinking about suicide may say or do to indicate their thoughts. Recognizing the warning signs is invaluable.
Watch for any of the following changes:
SIGNIFICANT MOOD CHANGES
• being really sad when usually they’re happy
• being really happy when they’re usually pretty down or easily annoyed
• getting angry, annoyed, or frustrated easily
WITHDRAWAL
• staying home more often, not hanging out with friends much
• not doing things they normally enjoy like playing sports, music, or going to parties
• skipping school more often than usual
• deleting social media accounts
OTHER CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR
• declining grades
• paying less attention to their personal appearance, e.g. having dirty clothes or unwashed hair when
they are usually quite clean
• change of eating habits e.g. loss of appetite or overeating
• physical symptoms of stress or low-mood (reports of feeling sick, stomachaches, headaches, fatigue)
RISK-TAKING, SPONTANEOUS BEHAVIOUR
• driving while under the influence of substances
• drinking more alcohol or taking more drugs than usual
• wanting to run away from home
engaging in reckless behaviour
• giving away possessions
• asking someone else to take care of their pet
Observations of concerning statements may include: (as outlined by the Centre for Suicide Prevention https://www.suicideinfo.ca/)
HOPELESSNESS
“What’s the point?”
“Nothing is ever going to change.”
“Nothing matters.”
“What difference does anything make?”
SOCIAL ISOLATION
“I don’t have any friends.”
“Nobody cares about me.”
“Nobody likes me.”
“I feel like I’m invisible to everyone”
LOW SELF-ESTEEM
“I hate myself.”
“I’m such a failure.”
“Everybody thinks I’m a loser.”
PSYCHOLOGICAL PAIN
“I’m so miserable.”
“I’m never happy.”
“Nothing is fun anymore.”
“I feel so empty inside”
FEELING WORTHLESS OR LIKE A BURDEN TO OTHERS
“Nobody would care if I was gone.”
“Everyone would be better off if I was dead.”
“Nobody would miss me if I didn’t come to school.”
WANTING TO DIE
“I’m going to kill myself.”
“I wish I were dead.”
“I wish I had never been born.”
“I want to die.”
TALKING CASUALLY OR “JOKING” ABOUT DEATH
“Why don’t I just kill myself?”
“I might as well just off myself now”
It is important to reach out for support if you, your child, or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation.
Call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. https://kidshelpphone.ca/
If this is an emergency, call 911.
Crisis Services Canada https://988.ca/
Crisis line service available 24/7 across Canada for people of all ages 1-833-456-4566
Children and youth encounter significant barriers to receiving mental health support. In the midst of the current pandemic, the gap between the support needed and options for services has grown. Telehealth is a viable option to reach those in need while maintaining safety.
In a recent study co-lead by the Child Mind Institute, 86% of parents surveyed reported positive benefits for their child through this modality, 84% reported the virtual sessions being a positive experience for the family, 78% reported a significant improvement in their child from the sessions, and 87% of parents said that they would recommend this format of therapy to others. https://childmind.org/education/childrens-mental-health-report/2020-report/
For updated information on the prevalence of mental health concerns in teens, provided by the World Health Organization, visit https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health