What is Mental Health?
Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. (WHO)
When a person is unable to function under the above named definition, then it is referred to as a Mental Illness.
What is Mental Illness?
A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling or mood. Such conditions may affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day. Each person will have different experiences, even people with the same diagnosis – National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Mental disorders among children and young people are on the increase . Statistics from Young Minds shows that :
* 1 in 10 children and young people aged 5 – 16 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder – that is around three children in every class
* Between 1 in every 12 and 1 in 15 children and young people deliberately self-harm
* There has been a big increase in the number of young people being admitted to hospital because of self harm. Over the last ten years this figure has increased by 68%
* More than half of all adults with mental health problems were diagnosed in childhood. Less than half were treated appropriately at the time
1 in 10 children and young people aged 5- 16 suffer from a diagnosable mental health disorder
* Over 8,000 children aged under 10 years old suffer from severe depression
* 72% of children in care have behavioral or emotional problems – these are some of the most vulnerable people in our society
* 95% of imprisoned young offenders have a mental health disorder. Many of them are struggling with more than one disorder
* The number of young people aged 15-16 with depression nearly doubled between the 1980s and the 2000s
* The proportion of young people aged 15-16 with a conduct disorder more than doubled between 1974 and 1999 .
This is alarming and definitely needs awareness and a lot of attention to tackle this problem. Next week, I will be talking about the causes and types of Mental Illness. I look forward to carrying you along on this March series as it is very important to make sure your children are in good health mentally so their future can be shaped as champions.
Love, Bose.