More children than ever are experiencing mental health issues, so what can parents and loved ones do to help address these issues and prevent them before they start? We sat down with Dr Hansa Bhargava, Medscape Education CMO and author of Building Happier Kids: Stress-Busting Tools for Parents, published with the American Academy of Pediatrics, to discuss this critical issue.
"Mental health issues in youth, unfortunately were a significant issue pre-pandemic, with anxiety, depression and suicidality all on the rise," said Dr Bhargava. "Now, with the pandemic, this has become urgent with an increase of 31% in mental health visits to ERs, and worsening mental health generally. We are in a crisis situation and we do need to reset."
Dr Bhargava shared that we can all take steps to improve pediatric mental health, starting with a few basic steps in the right direction. Limit overscheduling and screens to create time for relationship building and creativity. Fundamentals include not only sleep, but connection to each other such as family and community time. Prioritizing what is important, and 'clearing out' all the rest is key, as is minimizing commitments and reducing media — especially bad news exposure. Lastly, it is so key for parents to find ways to reduce their own stress, because it causes kids to be stressed out. The oxygen mask analogy is important — first put on the mask yourself."
But while we all might take the right steps, issues can still develop in childhood and adolescence. Knowing what signs to look for that your child is struggling is the important next step, as is knowing what to do if you start to see worrying signs.
"Different ages have different symptoms. Kids aged 4 to 10 may have more outbursts, temper tantrums, and sleep issues," notes Dr Bhargava. "They may also have physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches. Older kids and teens can often isolate themselves, going into their rooms, or may have increased media usage- getting on social media more or gaming more. They can have changes in appetite, sleep or even grades. And some may turn to substance use as well."
If parents or loved ones start to have concerns about their child's mental health, the best place to start is with their doctor. Their doctor may be able to address some of the issues or direct you to resources that you can use to help your child.
"My hope is that we all will realize that it is time for a reset and to refuel connection with others, whether that's family, close friends or community. Also, I hope that we all realize, not just parents, how important emotional resiliency is to function at our best AND to have the best physical health too. I am optimistic that we can do this, help our kids, and get to better ground."
Medscape Education is connecting to the conversation around mental health through clinician and patient education. Medscape Education is committed to providing scientifically rigorous education on a wide range of pediatric mental health topics. Visit https://www.medscape.org/psychiatry to learn more.
Dr Bhargava's book, Building Happier Kids: Stress-Busting Tools for Parents, is available from all major retailers.