Early Response and Support

for Children’s Mental Health

A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Educators
I. INTRODUCTION

A report by the World Health Organization
published in October 2020 states that 1 in 5
children and adolescents has a mental
disorder.
On the other hand, when relationships are
reliably responsive and supportive, they can
buffer (although not wholly shield) young
children from the adverse effects of other
stressors.

Depression us one of the leading causes of

illness and disability.

The same report also states that

suicide is the second leading
cause of death for people as
young as 15 years old.

This is why it is crucial for parents,

According to Harvard University’s Center on
the Developing Child, the foundations of an
adult person’s mental health are laid out
in his or her childhood experiences, more
specifically in interactions with parents,
caregivers, teachers, and peers in the face
of trauma or adversity. When a child is
subjected to relationships that are abusive,
threatening, chronically neglectful, or
otherwise psychologically harmful, there is
an increased risk for the development of
early mental health problems.
caregivers, and educators to take proactive
steps in offering children protection and/or
timely intervention from toxic stress,
maltreatment, neglect, trauma, or harm.
When adults are responsive and supportive,
it will positively impact the child’s
development, educational attainment,
relationships with others, and the potential to
live as a fulfilling and productive adult
member of society.

1 Word Health Organization (2020). World Mental Health Day Campaign. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2020/world-mental-health-
day-campaign
2 Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University (2020). Early childhood mental health. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/deep-dives/mental-health/
II. CHILDREN AND MENTAL HEALTH

A. Glossary

1 Mental Health

Mental health in childhood means reaching

developmental and emotional milestones, and
learning healthy social skills and how to cope when
there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a
positive quality of life and can function well at home,
in school, and in their communities.

2 Mental disorders

Children are described to have mental disorders if

there are serious changes in the way they typically
learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which cause
distress and problems getting through the day. While
it is normal for children to occasionally have fears,
worries, or display disruptive behavior, concerns must
be raised if the symptoms are severe and persistent
and interfere with school, home, or play activities.

Among the more common mental disorders that can be diagnosed in childhood are attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and behavior disorders.

"Healthcare professionals use the guidelines in The

American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual, Fifth edition (DSM-5), to help
diagnose mental health disorders in children."

3
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020). What are childhood mental disorders? Retrieved 21 October 2020
from https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/basics.html#:~:text=Mental%20disorders%20among%20child
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020). What are childhood mental disorders? Retrieved 21 October 2020

from https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/basics.html#:~:text=Mental%20disorders%20among%20child
5
WebMD (2020). Mental illness in children. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from https://www.webmd.com/mental-
health/mental-illness-children#2-5
II. CHILDREN AND MENTAL HEALTH

B. Causes
The exact cause of most mental disorders is not known, but research suggests that a combination
of factors might be involved. These include:

Heredity (Genetics) Environmental stress

Many mental disorders run in families,
suggesting that the disorders, or more
accurately, a vulnerability to the disorders,
might be passed on from parents to
children through genes.
Stressful or traumatic events can trigger
a disorder in a person with a vulnerability
to a mental disorder.

Biology
As in adults, many mental disorders in
children have been linked to abnormal
functioning of particular brain regions that
control emotion, thinking, perception, and
behavior. Head traumas also can
sometimes lead to changes in mood and
personality.
Psychological trauma
Some mental disorders might be
triggered by psychological trauma, such
as severe emotional, physical, or sexual
abuse; an important early loss, such as
the loss of a parent; and neglect.

C. Signs and symptoms

Diagnosing mental illness in children can be especially difficult because many behaviors that are
seen as symptoms of mental disorders can occur as a normal part of a child's development.
Examples include shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits, and outbursts of temper.

"Behaviors become symptoms only

when they occur very often, last a
long time, occur at an unusual age,
or cause significant disruption to
the child's and/or family's life."

6
WebMD (2020). Mental illness in children. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from https://www.webmd.com/mental-
health/mental-illness-children#2-5
Signs of mental health concerns
in children include:

Frequent tantrums or they are intensely irritable much of the time.

Often talking about fears or worries.

Not being interested in playing with other children or having difficulty

making friends.

Struggling academically or have experienced a recent decline in grades.

Repeating actions or checking things many times out of fear that something
bad may happen.

Losing interest in things that they used to enjoy.

Spending more and more time alone, and avoiding social activities with
friends or family.

Fear of gaining weight, or excessive diet or exercise.

Sometimes, symptoms can be physical, such as:

Stomach aches or headaches with no known

medical cause.

They are in constant motion and cannot sit

quietly (except when they are watching Sleep too much or too little, have frequent
videos or playing video games). nightmares, or seem sleepy during the day.
Older children may:
Engage in self-harm behaviors
(e.g., cutting or burning their skin).
Smoke, drink, or use drugs.
As a parent or educator, you are in the best
position to encourage good mental health
through things you say and do, and through the
environment you create at home and in school.

Engage in risky or destructive

behavior alone or with friends.

Have thoughts of suicide.

NOTE: If a child’s behavior is

unsafe, or if a child talks
about wanting to hurt him or
herself or someone else, then
seek help immediately.

III. HOW TO NURTURE AND SUPPORT CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH

Adults should not wait for warning signs to appear before paying attention to a child’s mental health.
In the same way that we care for our child’s physical health from the time they are born, we should
also support their day-to-day mental well-being.

It’s important for children and youth to have

1 strong relationships with family and friends who
can model good behavior as well as provide
support during times of emotional difficulties.
Help children build strong, caring Make an effort to eat together as a family once a
relationships. day, as this is where conversations best happen.
Keep communication flowing by asking questions
and listening to your child.

6
WebMD (2020). Mental illness in children. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from https://www.webmd.com/mental-
health/mental-illness-children#2-5
2
Help children and youth develop self-esteem,
so that they feel good about themselves.

Show lots of love and acceptance.

Praise them when they do well. Recognize their efforts
as well as what they achieve. Doing this will boost
your child’s confidence and resilience, as well as
develop their growth mindset.
Ask questions about their activities and interests.
Help them set realistic goals to keep up their
motivation.

3
2
Encourage them to talk about how they feel,
and assure them it’s okay to feel sad or angry.

For younger children with limited vocabulary: Small

children will tend to express strong emotions through facial
expressions or actions. Sometimes, these lead to behaviors
that are inappropriate or problematic. Tools like the
emotion wheel, mood cards, or story books (where the
characters show different emotions) can help children
identify what they are feeling and convey them to others.
They also help children see that emotions are normal and
ever-changing, which can help reduce their anxiety about
feeling a certain way.

For older children:

Even tweens and teens can struggle with ordering their thinking and verbalizing their emotions.
In such cases, sentence starters like the ones below can be useful prompts and help them
communicate their thoughts and feelings, whether orally or through writing. Examples of
sentence starters or journal prompts:

I feel…
I wish…
I need…
I hope…
I want….
I want to do more…
I want to do less…
I want to feel…
 If your child does not feel comfortable
talking to you, don’t take it personally or
berate them. Instead, help your child find a
trusted relative or friend that they can talk to.
If your child has access to a smartphone, you
can even download the Messenger Kids app
so that they can avail of MindNation’s 24/7
chat service, which is absolutely safe, free http://m.me/mindnation
and confidential.

4 5
Create a safe, positive home Be a role model by taking care of
environment. your own mental health.

Be mindful of your child’s media use, both the

content and the amount of time spent on
screens. This includes TV, movies, Internet,
and gaming devices. Be aware of who they
might be interacting with on social media
and online games.

Talk about your feelings and espouse self-care.

6
Be careful about discussing serious family
In difficult situations, help children
issues—such as finances, marital problems,
or illness—around your children. Children can
and youth solve problems.
worry about these things and find them
difficult to process. Provide time for physical
activity, play, and family activities.

Talk about possible solutions or ideas to

improve a situation and how to make it
happen. Try not to take over.
2
7
Teach your child techniques for calming and
mindfulness. This could be through:

Meditation
There are many websites and apps geared towards
helping children manage their thoughts. A MindNation
favorite is Headspace for Kids
(https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids),
where parents can choose from three age ranges (5
and under, 6-8, and 9-12), as well as varying length of
sessions (3 - 9 minutes).

Kids’ yoga
The Youtube channel Cosmic Kids Yoga
(https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga/vid
eos) uploads 6 videos a month to help kids develop
not just mindfulness and relaxation but also strength
and balance.

IV. SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH

DURING THE PANDEMIC

Children may not be as vulnerable to the physical effects of the COVID-

19 virus as adults and the elderly, but this does not mean that their
mental health is unaffected. The pandemic has affected their
psychological well-being significantly, including an increase in levels of
stress and anxiety due to:

1. Disruption of routine
2. Physical and social isolation
3. Online fatigue due to distance learning
4. Increased conflict at home
5. High level of parental stress

7
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2020). Mental health considerations for children & adolescents in
COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved 21 October 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7306970/
In addition, young people with existing mental
health conditions may find their disorders
aggravated by the lockdown, since they no
longer have access to the previous support
they received via schools, peer support groups,
or counseling.
While it's uncertain how long stress
and anxiety will last after the
pandemic is over, experts say
parents, teachers, and caregivers can
play a role in preventing long-term
mental health issues by doing the
following:
Maintain structure.
Routine is an essential tool for coping with the
negative effects of isolation. Continue to have
children eat, sleep, do chores, and “attend”
school at regular times, and do not neglect
grooming and hygiene.
Spend time together.
Apart from regularly scheduling in
opportunities for fun, creativity, and physical
activity, get kids involved in family decisions,
even if it’s just what restaurant they want to
order takeout from during the weekend, or
what show to watch during Movie Night. Older
kids in particular can be sensitive to the lack of
control in their lives, so giving them some
“power” might make the stresses of isolation
more manageable.
Change screen time expectations.
The best way to help your children cope with
the loneliness of social distancing is to forget
screen time recommendations for a while to
make room for online learning, social media,
and other tools needed for kids to keep in
touch with friends and classmates. Just make
sure that their devices are equipped with the
necessary safety protection.
Talk to your child about what is going on.
Find out how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking about, let them know it is
okay to feel scared or unsure, and reassure them that this will pass. Try to answer
their questions and reassure them in an age appropriate manner. Remember,
you do not need to know all the answers, but talking can help them feel calm. If
you are a work-from-home parent, use the opportunity to explain to them about
the “new normal” situation so that they respect your work-home boundaries but
at the same time do not feel shut out when you need to pay attention to work
duties.

Model good behavior.

Remember that your kids will turn to you for
cues on how to best manage this current
crisis. So create a sense of calm by taking
care of yourself first and foremost. This means
making sure you are getting the right amount
of sleep, eating well, exercising, and finding
ways to unwind.
V. CONCLUSION
As children grow and go through physical changes, so must we expect to see
them undergo a wide array of emotions as well. While we may find some
behaviors disconcerting, children need to feel that it is okay for them to
express themselves without fear of repercussions. At the same time, it is our
responsibility as adults to model healthy ways of managing emotions so that
children can learn how to communicate their emotions in safe and
appropriate ways. Lastly, parents, caregivers, and educators also have the
duty of watching out for the early signs of emotional troubles and provide
intervention when needed. Remember that potential mental health problems
will not become problems if we respond to them early.

The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical

health. Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the
resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and grow into well-
rounded, healthy adults. Reach out to MindNation via email at
hello@mindnation.com for more ways to support your children's mental health.