Silent Epidemic: Dealing With Mental Health Problems in School Students

Mental health problems are common, ranging from simple mental disorders such as depression and anxiety to more rare conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. Mental disorders can occur to anyone, irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity or age group. And, when it comes to children, mental health conditions can hamper their ability to cope with the pressures of school, interacting with friends or society.

Surprisingly, the rate of prevalence of mental disorders in school-going children is almost similar to that of adults. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), just over 20 percent (or 1 in 5) children experienced serious symptoms of mental health condition either currently or at some point during their life. Fortunately, most mental disorders are treatable, and a lot of individuals with some sort of mental disability continue to function normally in their daily life.

Mental disorders in school-going children can have severe consequences

Despite alarming statistics, mental health problems continue to remain a silent epidemic in school. Mental disorders in children can range from common conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and behavior disorders, to Tourette's syndrome, eating disorder or depression.

However, be it any disorder, a mental health condition is sure to deteriorate a child's quality of life. These illnesses, in fact, become a hindrance for their career and in leading a healthy life. As a result, they tend to isolate themselves from others, become silent and remain aloof from their family and friends. While parents of these children are aware about the condition, their silence and alienation is often misinterpreted by their teachers and school staff, which further adds to their dismay and distress.

Studies have shown that the symptoms of most mental disorders start appearing in the early childhood, however, a few of them may also develop throughout the teenage years. Often, signs such as increased obedience, silence, alienation, etc., could be suggestive of an underlying mental disorder, however, they are often treated as normal behavioral traits, and hence, overlooked.

According to experts, schools can play an important role in identifying students with mental health conditions and in enabling them to receive the required help. For instance, students who consistently show their reluctance to go to school may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Students facing problems in concentrating or exhibiting hyperactivity in school may have underlying ADHD or other related disorder. Apart from showing increased absenteeism, a mentally ill child is fearful of making new friends, hesitates in interacting with teachers or other students or remains extremely silent in class.

Mental disorders in children, if left untreated, may lead to severe consequences affecting their overall development and growth. Hence, the need of the hour is to educate the teachers and school staff about the signs and symptoms of commonly occurring mental disorders in children, so that they can be provided with the required help and support at the right time.

Seeking professional help

Schools are the interface between the children and the outer world. While almost all children suffer from anxiety in their initial school days, a few others exhibit the symptoms that prevail until adulthood. Thus, schools can play an important role in helping these children cope with their symptoms. It is important to diagnose mental illnesses at the earliest so that a proper treatment can be provided to ensure minimum damage. Mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, can significantly disrupt the day-to-day activities, especially in children, putting their adulthood at stake.

If your child is suffering from anxiety disorders, contact the Sovereign Mental Health Services to get treatment from trained professionals at our anxiety disorders treatment centers. Call us at our 24/7 helpline number 866-973-7164 to get more details on our anxiety disorders treatment.

 By Susan Navarez


Article Source:  Silent Epidemic: Dealing With Mental Health Problems in School Students