This document discusses children's mental health and provides information on signs that a child may need help. It states that experiences in early childhood lay the foundation for lifelong mental health and that children can be influenced by their upbringing, environment, trauma, and other factors. The document outlines academic, behavioral, emotional, and social signs that a child may have difficulties and need assistance, such as poor grades, hyperactivity, sadness, or an inability to interact well with others. It emphasizes that recognizing issues early and getting help can prevent long-term problems, so families and teachers should not ignore or minimize a child's struggles. People concerned about a child's mental health should consult their doctor or a mental health professional.

1. INFORMATION REGARDING CHILDREN
Having good Mental Health through childhood and adolescent years often determines
mental health and well-being throughout life. Research have shown that experiences in
early childhood lay the foundation for mental health in adulthood and good mental
health is fundamental to one’s physical health, quality of life and productivity.
Q What is Mental Health?
Having no physical illness does not mean we have good mental health. Mental health is
the way we think, feel and behave. It involves:
 How we interact with others
 The way we see ourselves, our problems and how we deal with it
 How we evaluate our options and make our choices
 How we work to achieve what we want and what we need
It is just as important as our physical health, as it determines how we live our life.
Q What influences our Mental Health?
 Our level of intelligence and the way we think
 Upbringing (parenting): many children are affected by how their parents and
caregivers react towards them. Difficulties in the family often results in mental
health difficulties e.g. frequent fights, marital problems, family break-up or
separation often results in difficult relationship and poor bonding with main

2. caregivers. The use of aggression, presence of depression or mental health
difficulties in parents increases the risk to mental health difficulties.
 Our environment (friends, school and neighbourhood). External stresses which
effect adult directly can have its impact on children e.g. not being able to find
stable employment, difficulties at work, illnesses, hardships for people e.g.
pressure to perform (in school or at work)
 Experience that shapes our self-image, coping mechanism and confidence e.g. peer
difficulties, bullying
 Our strength, weakness & achievement
 Psychological trauma (e.g. all forms of abuse, loss or death, environmental
disaster)
 Poverty
 Poor support network or role model
 Physical health and illness
Q What happens if these children are not helped?
 they are unable to learn and perform as well as their peers
 they are at higher risk of losing interest in and not completing their studies
 they play truant and eventually drop-out of school
 they become defiant and will less likely not cooperate with adults
 higher risk to run away from home
 they tend to use aggression onto people and venture into other risk taking
behaviour e.g. early onset of sexual behaviours
 they are likely to use force and threats in order to get what they want
 their mood change into feeling low, sad or irritable

3.  along with the mood change, they have negative thoughts about themselves ; they
feel hopeless, worthless and fell that they have done wrong to themselves and
family (feel guilty)
 some have thoughts of death or wanting to die
Childhood should be a time filled with wonder and joy, but in reality for many kids is
often much different. In reality, many children face difficulties in their life but their
difficulties are often not noticed or minimised. Children and adolescent make up 39% of
the world population and it is estimated 20% of them have mental health difficulties.
Know when your child or their friend(s) may have difficulties. Signs include:
a) Academic
 complaints of constant difficulties in reading, writing and/or mathematics
 poor grades in school despite trying hard
 marked or sudden fall in school performance
b) Behaviour
 complaints from teachers of inability or difficulties to keep still in class,
constantly leaving their seat, disturbing or talking to others
 hyperactivity, restless, unable to keep still unless watching television or on
the computer (fidgety)
 persistent disobedience, uncooperative or use of aggression to authority
figures (teachers, parents)
 bullying and using threats onto others
 being frequently bullied by others
 does not mix or get along with others

4.  frequently gets angry and use of aggression e.g. throw or hit others
 changes in eating or sleeping patterns
 lack of energy or motivation
 loss of interest in school or things normally pleasurable for the child
 using drugs and alcohol
 odd ideas or behaviour e.g. withdrawn, complaints of being and feeling
afraid
c) Emotions
 Expressing a lot of worries, fears and/or anxieties
 Sad face, crying a lot
 Frequent anger outburst
 Complaints of feeling stressful or sad, unhappy
 Complaints of poor sleep, persistent nightmares, feeling tired, inability to
concentrate or think well
 Persistent negative thinking of giving up living, running away from home
 Complaints of being touched and feeling uncomfortable about it
 A lot of fear of being fat and regularly skipping meals
d) Interaction with others
 Children that have difficulties or unable to get along with others
Knowing when children need help and getting help early can help resolve the problem(s)
and prevents severe and lasting consequences.

5. Families, teachers or friends are usually the first to recognise that there is something
wrong with the child. Never minimise the child’s difficulties, these problems usually do
not disappear with age, left unattended, it usually worsens
When the problem does not seemed to go away despite attempts, the child would need
to see a qualified professional, a doctor, paediatrician, clinical psychologist or psychiatrist
Q Where can you go for help?
 most doctors treating children are aware of the difficulties and where to refer the
child if difficulties persist
 ask your doctor, if you have any of the above concerns
 similarly, the Mind Faculty has a group of professionals that can be of help
Prepared by: A Hashim childpsy62@gmail.com
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