Prioritizing Children's Mental Health – the need of the hour

The Urgent Need for Awareness about Children’s Mental Health in India

Did you know that at any given point in time, nearly 50 million Indian children suffer from mental disorders, and this number will increase if we add the adolescent population?[1]

It’s quite surprising, isn’t it? The situation is far from satisfactory. We often tend to ignore the mental health of children and adolescents. According to WHO, globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder.[2] The scenario is not good in India either. This underscores the critical need for early intervention and accessible services.

Today, in this blog, we will delve into this topic, exploring various aspects of children’s mental health in India.

India: A Nation with a Unique Challenge

India presents a compelling case for prioritizing child and adolescent mental health. As the second most populous country with almost 1.4 billion people[3], the world recognizes the ‘demographic dividend’ of India, due to its vast youth population. Notably:

• Every fifth individual (over 285 million) is an adolescent between 10 and 19 years old.[1]
• Every third person (over 476 million) falls between the ages of 10 and 24.[1]
• This translates to over 434 million children and adolescents – the highest number in the world.[1]

For adolescents, mental health challenges are already as prevalent as some common physical health conditions like asthma.[4] Also, the provisions of mental health policies in India have not been very successful in addressing the issue in its entirety.

India's Policy Landscape: A Need for Stronger Focus on CAMH

India has a commendable legislative framework for child development, with policies like:

• National Policy for Children (1974)
• Mental Health Act (1987)
• National Nutrition Policy (1993)
• National Charter for Children (2004)
• National Plan of Action for Children (2005)

The work on paper is commendable. However, a critical gap exists because – none of these policies explicitly prioritizes Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) as a national focus. While the National Health Policy (2002, 2016) and the National Mental Health Policy (2014) address mental health, they lack specific emphasis on the unique needs of young people. However, ongoing efforts by authorities demonstrate a commitment to addressing these issues and ensuring children's well-being.

Current Status of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

The mental health of children and adolescents in India requires urgent attention. Why?

Because the National Mental Health Survey of 2016 reported a 7.3% prevalence of mental disorders among children aged 13–17 years, with no notable gender difference. [5]

For children without parental care, the situation is even worse as their life is often characterized by feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and fear. Children respond to this in different ways - some become aggressive and develop anger issues whereas some of them withdraw into themselves and lose self-confidence. It becomes imperative to prioritize mental health education for their caregivers so that they may recognize it and deal with it appropriately.

We need to focus on nurturing the mental well-being of our children. Only through early intervention, awareness, and education, can we create a brighter and more stable future, one where mental health is valued and prioritized from an early age.

The Role of NGOs in Children's Mental Health

India has a large population and also a higher percentage of people with mental disorders. The uneven distribution of resources makes it worse as India's scarce mental health specialists are heavily concentrated in specific regions (mainly southern states) and urban areas.

But.. There is hope. Some of the Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged as important players in addressing this gap. Over the past few decades, they have made significant contributions by establishing Innovative Models of Care. These models are crucial for ensuring wider reach and accessibility, particularly in underserved areas. One such NGO is Udayan Care which has been working for 30 years, offering comprehensive support to children and young adults deprived of parental care.

Udayan Care: Fostering Positive Mental Health in Children

At Udayan Care, our focus is on providing all-round care to children and young adults without parental care. Under the Udayan Ghar Program, our homes called “Ghars” create a family-like environment, recognizing that emotional wellness is just as important as physical health. We actively promote mental health, practice principles of trauma-informed care, and create a safe and secure environment for children to thrive.

Here's how Udayan Care prioritizes positive mental health:

Dedicated Mental Health Professionals:

We have been working with a clinical child psychiatrist and mental health expert for over one and a half decades. He visits Udayan Ghar thrice a month for in-depth assessments and provides support to individual cases.

A team of dedicated in-house counselors monitor children and regularly hold counseling sessions with children.  They also conduct regular workshops for both children and their caregivers on topics related to mental health.

One of our long-term volunteers from Australia, a trained counselor has been providing online sessions for our children, young adults as well as caregivers.

Empowering Children:

• We raise awareness about recognizing “good and bad touch” with children.  We also make children and caregivers aware of the POCSO Act, which equips children to identify and report sexual abuse. This empowers them to speak up about past traumas.
• We regularly organize mental health literacy events, workshops, and training programs.

Building Trust and Openness:

We foster strong bonds between children and counselors/mentor parents, creating a safe space for them to share their experiences and receive appropriate therapy.

Research and Collaboration:

By collaborating with institutions and agencies, we conduct research programs on mental health education, gaining valuable insights into the specific circumstances of our children and tailoring our support accordingly.

Empowering Caregivers

In today's world, caregivers hold an undeniably critical role in their children's mental well-being. Often, they are the first to notice shifts in behavior and mood patterns, making them invaluable allies in early intervention. Here's how caregivers can champion children's mental health:

Mental Health Literacy: Fostering an understanding of children's mental health is key. By educating themselves on common concerns, emotional development stages, and positive coping strategies, caregivers can better support their children.

Stigma Reduction: Open communication is essential. Normalizing conversations about mental health breaks down stigma and encourages children to seek help when needed.

Quality Time and Active Listening: Dedicating quality time to children demonstrates care and reinforces the importance of their feelings. Active listening fosters a safe space for children to express themselves openly and confidently.

Building Resilience: Equipping children with resilience skills allows them to navigate challenges and bounce back from setbacks. Encourage problem-solving, teach healthy coping mechanisms, and celebrate their successes.

Holistic Development: Recognizing the interconnectedness of mental and emotional well-being with physical health is crucial. Promote healthy habits like regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate sleep.

By prioritizing these aspects, caregivers can create a nurturing environment that fosters positive mental health for their children. Remember, early intervention and a holistic approach are key to building resilience and setting children up for success.

Conclusion

There is no denying that children’s mental health status is far from satisfactory. Our children are our nation’s invaluable asset and their well-being is our collective responsibility. By nurturing the mental well-being of our children, we empower them to become responsible citizens and build a brighter future for all.

Our goal should be to ensure equal developmental opportunities for all children during their formative years because children's mental health is not just a social responsibility, it's an investment in the future of our nation as well. Let's work together to bridge the gap and ensure all children have the opportunity to thrive.