 |
| Buddy Bench |
It is one of the hardest things for a parent to cope with - to see your child suffering from mental health problems, with no real idea what has gone wrong or how you can help them.
Signs of mental health problems in teenagers and children are sometimes dismissed as angst, but a recent UK Government-funded survey has revealed why we should be taking the issue much more seriously.
At the age of 14, a quarter of girls and one in 10 boys show signs of depression, researchers from UCL Institute of Education and the University of Liverpool found. The causes include stress, body image issues, bullying and social media pressure – all of which are typically experienced by teenagers and children in day-to-day life and may have a greater effect than you think.
Those from poorer or mixed ethnic backgrounds have a greater risk of showing signs, the survey of more than 10,000 children taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study found, while girls are more likely to suffer than boys.
Emma Saddleton, helpline manager at children’s mental health charity Young Minds, says: “Most young people experience ups and down during their teenage years and occasionally will feel down or upset by things going on in their lives. They might be adapting to a change in their family or school life, or just trying out new emotions, and will generally grow out of worrying behaviour.
“But some young people feel sad, lonely, down, anxious or stressed for longer periods of time to the extent that it can affect their everyday lives and can prevent that young person from doing things they would normally do.”
For early intervention, you should look out for the following signs:
1. A lack of motivation or interest
One sign of depression is a severe lack of motivation. This might come in the form of caring very little about their grades, showing little interest in hobbies, or even going out to see friends. Make note of what they’ve been enthusiastic about before, but may not be now.
2. A feeling of intolerance or irritation
Intolerance or irritation can be shown in a few different ways. They might cope by snapping or causing arguments more often than usual. Perhaps they’ve suddenly shown a sudden dislike to something or someone for seemingly no reason or frustration builds much quicker than it used to.
3. A feeling of hopelessness or helplessness
Look out for indications of helplessness in the things your child or teen says. They might think that nothing they can do will help improve their grades or improve relationships with friends. In some cases, they may become more reckless when thinking their actions no longer have consequences.
4. Lack of self-esteem
A lack of self-esteem can be evident in small actions that might be mistaken for typical teenage habits. Your teen might fret a lot over their outfits or appearance, constantly going back in to their room to change. They might worry over small outings such as going over to the shop for a pint of milk or meeting family friends.
5. Difficulty in making decisions
Although many people have trouble with making decisions, in an extreme case, this could be a sign of depression. Look out for signs of becoming easily frustrated or tearful when faced with a choice or decision.
6. They are no longer finding enjoyment in life
If your child or teen lacks excitement for things they would have previously enjoyed for a long period of time, this could be a strong indicator of depression. They might not care for an upcoming party or a meal they love. Become aware of how often they smile or laugh when watching TV or scrolling through their phones.
7. Changes in patterns of life
Other signs that may be easier to spot include changes in eating and sleeping habits. If your child or teen is eating or sleeping significantly more or less, it might be time to take the symptoms more seriously.
Useful Websites for Young People
- Al-Teen - 01 8732 699
- Anti-Bullying Centre, Trinity College Dublin
- CARI (helpline for children and families affected by sexual abuse) - 1890 924567 / 01 8308529
- Cura (pregnancy counselling service) - 1850 622 626
- Drugs / HIV Helpline - 1800 459 459
- Gay Switchboard - 01 8721 055
- Headstrong - Changing how Ireland thinks about young people's mental health through Jigsaw, Research and Advocacy.
- INSPIRE (Ireland)
- OCD Ireland
- Rape Crisis Centre - 1800 778 888 / 01 6614 911
- Samaritans - 1850 60 90 90
- Shine (Schizophrenia Ireland) - 01 8601 620
- www.yourmentalhealth.ie aims to improve awareness and understanding of mental health in Ireland.
- www.belongto.org is an organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered young people.
- www.barnardos.ie/teenhelp is somewhere where teens can go to for help and advice, as part of Barnardos mission to make Ireland a better place to be a child.
- www.bodywhys.ie is a national voluntary organisation providing a range of services for people affected by eating disorders
- www.omcya.ie is the web site of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
- www.pleasetalk.ie is a website which provides details of the support services available to students on college and university campuses.
- www.seechange.ie is Ireland's national partnership to reduce stigma and challenge discrimination associated with mental health problems. See Change are an alliance of organisations working together to bring about positive change in public attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health problems.
- www.headstrong.ie is a national organisation working with communities to ensure that young people are better supported to achieve mental health and well being
- www.reachout.com a support service for young people going through a tough time with information on the issues that matter to young people, signposts to other services and the opportunity to join a supportive online, mental health community
- www.aware.ie is a national voluntary organisation providing support through depression
- www.shine.ie is the national organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by enduring mental illness including, but not exclusively; schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder and bi-polar disorder
- www.grow.ie helps people who have suffered, or are suffering from mental health problems
- www.mentalhealthireland.ie is a national voluntary organisation which aims to promote mental health and support persons with a mental illness
https://www.jigsaw.ie/jigsaw-services/get-in-touch/
https://www.shine.ie/contact/
http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/teens/
No comments:
Post a Comment