By: Mia Perlina (Activist on Children’s Rights and A Lecturer at UNPAM)
Children’s mental health is undeniably crucial, intricately connected to their overall well-being and success in various aspects of life, including academics, work, and societal integration. The correlation between mental and physical health significantly influences an individual’s internal and external thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
This nexus of mental health remains pivotal throughout a child’s developmental stages, starting from considerations during prenatal stages to the transitional period into adulthood.
Consider a scenario where an overweight young boy faces teasing about his weight, leading him to withdraw socially, experience depression, and develop a reluctance to engage in activities or exercise. This withdrawal exacerbates his physical health and subsequently affects his mental well-being.
These issues persistently impact a child’s ability to realize their potential and bear significant repercussions on societal structures like health systems, education, labor markets, and criminal justice.
Take the case of Bobby, a boy experiencing physical abuse from his father, leading him to display aggressive behavior at school. While his behavior might be a response to the abuse, it could also signify an undiagnosed conduct disorder.
Sadly, his teachers perceive him merely as a troublemaker and consistently penalize his behavior. Consequently, Bobby leaves school in his teenage years, finding the environment hostile and desiring to escape his abusive household.
However, his aggressive behavior complicates his ability to sustain employment, leading to clashes with coworkers and supervisors. Bobby resorts to self-medication through alcohol abuse and faces multiple arrests for disorderly conduct.
When Bobby eventually receives a diagnosis for his conduct disorder and substance abuse in his 30s, his mental health issues have significantly entrenched.
This necessitates extensive therapy, a service that Bobby might struggle to afford without adequate health insurance from a stable job. Had Bobby received psychological intervention during his childhood, the outcome might have been drastically different – with early diagnosis, effective treatment, and intervention to address the abuse.
Every child has the fundamental right to a happy and healthy life and should have access to quality care to prevent or manage any emerging mental health concerns.
However, there exists a substantial gap in meeting these needs, especially for children in low-income communities, ethnic minorities, and marginalized groups based on gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, physical or intellectual disabilities, or chronic medical conditions.
Statistics reveal that an estimated 20 million young individuals in the nation may currently be diagnosed with mental health disorders.
Shockingly, only around 20% of these children in need receive appropriate assistance from mental health professionals, accentuating the pressing demand for culturally sensitive care based on empirical evidence and tailored to the unique needs of each child.
This disparity emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive mental health support systems for children to ensure their well-being and holistic development.