Mental health issues have been on the rise nowadays. The pandemic has trapped people inside their homes, which has caused mental matters to many people.
Unfortunately, despite the rise in mental issues in people, we as a society still stigmatize mental illness and do not talk about it openly.
Mostly, mental health issues begin at an early age and increase with time. If it is acknowledged on time, mental illness can be catered to.
Many people suggest that mental health education should become an essential part of the curriculum to make children aware at an early age. Children spend most of their time in school. Hence, mental health education should begin at school itself.
The increasing rate of Depression
It is predicted that mental illness, specifically depression, will be one of the burdening factors on people in the future. As per the reports, around 350 million people, including all age groups, suffer from depression.
The right way to equip our children is to make them understand mental health issues in detail.
It is widespread nowadays for those children to suffer from mental health disorders.
If mental health disorders are not diagnosed or treated on time, they can hamper the ability to learn and grow in adolescents. It also leads to negative coping mechanisms and can ultimately result in suicidal intentions.
Introduction of mental health education in schools
School is the best place to break down all the misconceptions and stigma about mental illness. The children should be taught about mental health to handle a related situation as they learn their self-worth in schools.
Also, children learn basic manners and etiquette towards their peers and society. Many children face bullying and criticism at schools that can sow the seeds of mental illness in their minds.
To avoid such a situation, the children need to understand their self-worth and the negative effects of bullying and social exclusion.
Some organizations that specialize in mental health disorders in children also facilitate schools to provide the proper education.
Due to financial instability, these organizations are not able to come at the front hand. These organizations are offered benefit loans today that help them survive in the society.
Anxiety in children
In school, children face many ups and downs at the same time. Some children grab the opportunities while others get stuck within the challenges. Every child has a different ability to cope with different situations.
Many children may feel anxious or scared about various situations. These symptoms can vary in intensity and cannot be ignored.
Upon ignoring these symptoms, their intensity can increase and result in significant mental health issues such as depression. Other results of ignorance of these symptoms can lead to a lack of performance or substance abuse.
The role of social media
Various studies have been conducted that draw a correlation between the increased use of social media and mental health. Although the findings are still unclear, there is a connection between the two.
There is clarity in the finding that the majority of active users comprise young adults.
There are different findings related to the use of social media. Some studies reveal that talking and interacting in small groups may be beneficial for mental health.
On the contrary, some studies reveal that it could lead to various disorders such as depression, eating disorders, and anxiety.
The benefit of social media is that it makes it easy for children to make friends and socialize with like-minded people. Children belonging to marginalized groups find it easy to find friends and support.
The drawback of using social media is that children develop feelings of comparison and inferiority. Many children indulge in negative activities by destroying someone’s image on a social platform that can lead to a consequence for years.
The importance of early intervention
Learning about the early signs and symptoms of mental illness can help curb it. If our family, friends, teachers, or guardians can understand the behavior at an early stage, it will help the person cope with the problem in an effective way.
It will help reduce the intensity of the illness and may prevent the development of significant diseases. A few of the signs are nervousness, mood changes, apathy, feelings of disconnection, etc.
Implementing mental health education in the curriculum
We have to work on making school a positive environment to study. Students should recognize and understand their early signs of mental health issues and know when to ask for support.
They must be equipped with awareness and proper knowledge and should also know when to seek support.
80% of the parents believe that mental health should be made an integral part of the curriculum as parents also understand the need for mental health education at an early age. It is observed that almost 50% of mental health problems develop from the early age of 15. Hence, there is a growing need for mental health education in the school curriculum.
THE BOTTOM LINE
There is an increasing need for shit in the mindset of people about mental health disorders, which has to start from a young age.
By providing the necessary education to children, we may be able to create a new society wherein people will be more understanding and empathic towards people facing mental disorders. It is high time to stop stigmatize these issues and be more understanding towards them.
In the UK, many organizations are working towards the mental health of children. Most of the time, these organizations face financial constraints and are unable to function correctly.
These organizations are being offered loans without guarantor in the UK from direct lenders to operate smoothly and make a difference in the lives of children.
Schools need to implement mental health education in their curriculum to address and identify the problematic areas in a child. Awareness should be created at a young age to avoid negative attitudes such as self-harm, substance use, eating disorders, etc.
Teachers need to understand the consequences for the children and encourage everybody to make positive and cohesive environments to survive.