Children And Mental Health ?

[Bobbisox1]

This in no way knocking the fact it’s happening because it is but I can never remember as a child myself ,anyone ever suffering from it or did we just ‘get on with it’? and yes I’m certain that that’s because it’s recognised now too ,what causes this in such young people I wonder, no link , it’s a small clip on Sky news

[Boto]

It's the fashion to have mental health problems. Often it's bad parenting.

[ichkeria]

In the old days kids went up chimneys and never a murmur of existentialist angst.

The youth of today!

[Barsel]

Ken, I agree.

[dave50]

Anything that upsets or worries them, they are diagnosed as having mental health issues. Barevement, worries about exams, relationship problems are just normal day to day issues, nothing to do with having mental health problems.

[anneasquith]

Children and adults are bombarded 24/7 in the media with catastrophic incidents from all over the world. We cant expect ‘ children’ of to day not to be impacted. Mental ill health is a serious problem. Just because you don’t see it, does not mean it doesn’t exist .

[ichkeria]

Quite so

[Barsel]

I don't know this for sure, but I wonder how many children who are diagnosed with mental health problems come from broken homes, or perhaps they are in care etc.

[Redhelen72]

The attitude of many towards mental health is quite disgusting

[pat2604]

I think we all understand that Anne. I admit to mental health issues myself. I do take Mental Health seriously. But it seems now that it's taken over in the media that every little problem with a child is treated as a mental health issue and given a label. Not good for the children!

[pat2604]

Shirley. Call me what you like ;o). It must be confusing for those joining after 2013 seeing me referred to as Lofty or Lottie!

[anneasquith]

So we have ‘ poor parenting’ and ‘one parent families’ ‘ children in care homes’ the reason for children’s mental health issues ?

[pat2604]

Yes children today have problems to contend with. But there have been different problems for every generation, including what children experienced in World War 2. We all experience problems that we can't deal with well. I can trace my extreme anxiety back to family incidents at 9.

[jennyjoan]

well - for the first time in about 3 years I turned my channel TV to Emmerdale - I think on Wednesday and immediately set my Record button to watch the following few nights.

It was about two little girls of which one who had become a Troll on Social Media (they were about 14 years of age). Since I hadn't seen this originally I can only go of what probably happened. The Troll girl said everything about the "good" girl - eventually giving out the "good" girl's mobile number - therefore turning the little good girl into a nervous wreck. She was receiving very many posts saying this and that about her and couldn't handle it. Police were called in.

We have had two attempted suicides in my street alone within 6 months, one tried to hang himself but I don't know regarding the other.

I totally and utterly believe this Social Media is to blame big time.

I was saying to my handyman yesterday - when you see the kids today - do you ever see them killing themselves with laughter, all I can see are sullen faces, worried faces, sad faces and every one of them with a phone stuck to their hands with super glue.

When I heard of the first attempt of suicide (in my street) - I actually thought it was another sibling. Believe me these children were reared in the most wonderful way, you know fabulous parents, ballet, tap dancing, Irish dancing,/expensive costumes. Scuba diving - the whole bloody heap - so what went wrong. The second sibling is still quite ill mentally but doesn't look it but apart from her family I'm the only one who knows. She hasn't been well from about age 11 and when I see her I do worry about her too and her parents who haven't got over their first child's attempt. They have never been the same and they are the most lovely people you could wish to know.

I'm always long winded - sorry LOL - Again blame Social Media as I think the kids just can't handle it.

[Barsel]

JJ, I'm sorry to hear about the young girls who attempted suicide, there is a lot of that these days although quite often it's boys, it's very alarming.
I think you are right about social media, and I can understand why so many young people suffer from depression these days and attempt suicide.
Even children who are well brought up, still have pressures put on them from their peers, but hopefully they will get the treatment to help them.

[sevenOP]

Indeed this is a worrying problem.
Good answers from many, but to me Ken4155 10:26 Sat 18th Sep 2021
and anneasquith 10:33 Sat 18th Sep 2021 are major factors, and as others have added, children also have these rising levels of mental health problems stuck in front of their very faces which surely has an effect. ( same for adults with all those too)
This generation have a level of exposure that previous generations were not exposed to, in gratuitous levels of sensuality, sexuality and violence on TV, video games, films, newspapers, and for some reason the same level of access,either directly or indirectly, to the filth that the internet allows free access to. (again this can also harm adults mental health)
Why children age 3/4 ? to under 16 were ever allowed smartphones and internet capable computers is beyond me - I know the genie is out of the bottle , BUT it could still be like fags and alcohol, made illegal.

[pat2604]

As my wise OH says, everybody has mental problems of some kind.

[Redhelen72]

Yes but not everyone attempts suicide or takes up self harm at the age of 12

[pat2604]

What I was trying to say Red is that there are degrees of mental health problems. Yes attempting suicide is a serious mental health problem, as are many other things, but there is a media thing going on now about mental health and a lot of people are taking advantage.

[choux]

I do wonder sometimes if today's children are pushed too early into adulthood. In my childhood we only did the normal children's past times and hobbies. There was no internet, very little television and we didn't mix that much with our peers. We had little money to spend (as a family unit) and we were brought up to understand the value of everything.

My parents would take an active interest in our school studies and helped us with our homework in the most educational way. We had our household chores to complete - usually at weekends and these were given to us to develop strengths we already had and to explore other achievements we could make.

We were brought up to respect others and our manners had to be up to a high standard.

All in all I consider we had a very well rounded upbringing. We never had a problem with our mental health.

Some may say that children still have that sort of childhood, but I somehow doubt it.

[Redhelen72]

I will have to disagree with you I am afraid, I think there is another pandemic ongoing one of mental health