Kids can be emotional, anxious, and depressed too.

Research estimates that one in ten children meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis. Unfortunately only about 20% of them actually receive mental health intervention. Rates of anxiety based disorders are at epidemic levels. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the long lasting impacts of early difficulties in this area. It is frequently misdiagnosed as a behavioral problem, when in fact anxiety or other mood problems account much more clearly for what is going on. This being said, why is it that we can do to help the children around us live better-functioning lives?

Well before we get into that, I would like to touch on some ways these problems arise to begin with.

Children are such vulnerable individuals. They absorb everything around them. Their brains are always listening, even if they are not comprehending. So, how can this be an issue? Well that means they are learning from the terrible world that we live in. They model behaviors of those around them, they grow up with their parents as their role-models (this isn't always a good thing), and they have no way of understanding what is right and what is wrong. When parents are arguing, throwing objects, and using physical force, who do you think is normalizing these behaviors in their head? When a child is shushed for crying, who do you think is now ashamed of showing their emotions? When a teacher scolds a student for sharing their thoughts, who do you think feels self-conscious about participating in class?

Have you ever heard the saying, "You cant teach an old dog new tricks"? This can apply to adults. We should be taking advantage of the malleability of children’s ability to learn how to cope with and regulate their emotions. However, we run into the issues of caregivers, school teachers, and health care professionals brushing these concerns off as poor temperament. This leads to adults having a hard time coping with their emotions and resorting to self-medicative routes such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, and even staying in toxic relationships.

When we respect children, and give them the attention they deserve, they will grow to live more secure, healthy lives. If you're reading this I'm guessing you're either a parent, educator, health professional, or maybe just my friend (hi friend, this might come in handy for you too!). As I was saying, there are many things, big and small, that you can do to improve your child's well-being. One, CHECK IN! How many times do you ask your kid how their day was and get more than just 'good' as an answer? Two, let them feel their emotions, don't make them feel ashamed. Three, don't resort to punishment as a result of unwanted behaviors, maybe try reinforcing desired behaviors, this may lead to increased trust between the two, which will help when a child is struggling with an issue they may get in trouble for. The list goes on and on, and I hope to indulge in different techniques that caregivers can utilize.

I'm not a professional. I'm not a parent. I'm not a teacher. I'm a student who is tired of seeing individuals grow up with no means of assistance. Every child's story is different, but we have the power to create strong young adults who know how to handle stress, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. I think it's time to talk about that