Childhood Mental Struggles Intensify: A Rising Number of Children Are Experiencing Mental Distress
Damn, here's the lowdown on that story. Listen up:
"Hey, when you're ready to quit, you're really giving up," said the horse. But, "you're tough as hell when you acknowledge your vulnerabilities," says Stefan Rausch, a diploma psychologist who's been helping kids and teenagers in the GLG Day Clinic at Prenzlauer Freyschmidtstraße 20a for 30 years. He works in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry division. Other clinics offering the same vibe can be found in Ueckermünde, Neubrandenburg, and Eberswalde.
Can you believe it? All these kids and teenagers aged 7 to 18 dealing with psychological baggage all the time. It's heavy, man, and it makes their lives a struggle. To make matters worse, there aren't enough mental health resources available in the area. Nine spots in that Prenzlauer Day Clinic? Always full. That sucks, 'cause Stefan Rausch wishes the waiting list wasn't half a year, or even longer.
Rausch doesn't like labeling these young folks as "patients" – they're just carrying some heavy emotional baggage that makes life super difficult. Imagine getting tripped up by a knee injury for a while; you could hobble along, but once you heal, you're good to go. Psychological injuries? They stick around forever, and if left untreated, can mess up a person's life big-time.
School refusal? Used to be a conscious decision – like a kid deciding not to go to school 'cause they're sick or scared. Nowadays, it's more often the result of multiple emotional distress. It's tough to pinpoint the causes, especially for teachers juggling 25 students, each with their unique performance levels. The transformation into a school refuser is gradual, mostly influenced by various factors.
Folks who switched from primary school to secondary school during the COVID-19 era? Big impact. Lockdown kept them from having social interactions for months, making them unsure and less self-confident. During the same period, family tensions escalated due to lockdown stressors, like conflicts, job issues, and financial worries. It's easy to see how this pressure could cause a child to feel misunderstood and unstable, which makes them emotionally vulnerable.
Strong parents can raise "strong" kids, too. How? Self-awareness – knowing yourself, owning up to your weaknesses, leads to emotional stability that you can pass on to your offspring. Strong parents, whether together, separated, or as blended families, can help their kids navigate psychological challenges.
Now, let's talk about strategies for parents wanting to provide emotional support to their children:
- Active Listening: Be present, show empathy, and engage in conversations without distractions.
- Meeting Basic Needs: Ensure kids get proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise to maintain emotional balance.
- Emotional Awareness: Encourage children to recognize and express their feelings by using emotion words and modeling healthy emotional regulation.
- Professional Help: Don't be afraid to reach out for counseling and support groups, and explore family-centered care, parenting programs, psychotherapy, and trauma-informed care options if needed.
- Creating a Nurturing Environment: Provide quality child care, employ stress management techniques, and seek professional help if your child has experienced trauma or struggles with emotional regulation.
In the end, it takes a village to raise a child. The modern world is complex, offering a multitude of possibilities, but also hiding risks that can lead to nothingness. In rural areas, young people might find their only social interactions online. These virtual connections can help individuals avoid overwhelming demands and loneliness, but they also pose the risk of addiction.
Stefan Rausch encourages parents, children, and youth to embrace help like that available at the Prenzlau Day Clinic. Accepting help isn't a sign of weakness; instead, it shows courage and resilience.
One more quote from "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse": "When were you strongest?" asked the boy. "When I had the courage to be weak," said the horse. Sounds about right!
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, it's crucial for parents to be aware of the importance of mental health in family-health, especially considering the emotional struggles faced by children and teenagers.
- Stefan Rausch, a pioneer in child and adolescent psychiatry, emphasizes the relevance of science in understanding and addressing these psychological issues, often witnessed in the GLG Day Clinic and other similar institutions in Ueckermünde, Neubrandenburg, and Eberswalde.
- As a responsible parent, opting for professional help, such as counseling and support groups, psychotherapy, or trauma-informed care, can significantly contribute to a child's mental health, acting as a beacon of hope in their journey towards emotional wellness.
