Children are often described as happy, bubbly or full of life. But pernah tak kita tanya, are kids genuinely happy? Well, according to a survey conducted by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in 2022, 1 in 20 children in Malaysia between the ages of 5 and 9 experience mental health problems.
Wow… 1 in 20! Sedih kan? This is actually a huuggee wake up call!
Kenapa children ada masalah mental health?
Rupa rupanya the high amount of stress that our children experience can lead to significant problems including despair, anxiety, self-harm, or eating disorders. Tapi bukan tu je sebab even the exposure to stressful events boleh meningkatkan kemungkinan children will experience mental health problems.
Tak sangka kan? But that’s the hard truth. Our children actually can experience traumatic events due to a series of reasons like:
- Suffer from a chronic disease
- Tukar sekolah
- Kena bully
- Terlibat in domestic abuse
- Mistreated
- Divorced parents
- Passing of a loved one
Macam kita (the adults), mental health does impact on how the kids feel, think, and behave. That is why we strongly urge for parents to be more mindful…
Of the signs and symptoms children may exhibit, seperti…
It goes without saying that there are plenty of tell signs that parents should be aware of. However, the major red flags are:
- Bersedih selama two weeks or longer
- Avoid social contacts
- Causing or cakap pasal harming oneself
- Cakap pasal death or a suicide
- High impatience or outbursts
- Uncontrolled actions that may be harmful
- Perubahan perangai or mood
- Shifts in dietary patterns
- Hilang berat badan
- Trouble sleeping
- Regular stomachaches or headaches
- Tak boleh or susah paying attention
- Perubahan academic performance
- Taknak pergi school
Oh dear… We understand how disheartening it can be. But here’s the bright side parents: you have an opportunity untuk tolong anak you get better!
So, macam mana parents boleh tolong anak anak?
Tak ada orang yang understand children more than the parents. And, kalau ada satu benda that all parents share, it is a desire to ensure their children are healthy in every way. And some of the ways parents can help improve their children’s mental health is to:
- shower them with words of affirmation,
- spend more time together to nurture a loving relationship,
- help nurture their self-esteem through encouragement,
- respect, acknowledge and validate their emotions – even the ugly ones,
- help children understand and process their thoughts and emotions,
- set family traditions to improve familial bond,
- ensure home is a safe and welcoming environment,
- give room for children to freely and openly express themselves, and
- monitor their social media and get to know their friends
Parents boleh juga consider seeking professional help.
Ok, so we know that our Asian culture is not a fan of therapy. But hear us out! Some researchers have proven that therapy is effective for up to 75% of people! And in Malaysia, parents have the option of seeking help from government hospitals, private hospitals, or even licensed establishments such as the Malaysian Mental Health Association.
But parents, do take note: whether you’re opting to schedule an appointment with a psychologist at a public hospital or private hospital, obtaining a referral letter from your general practitioner is crucial.
If you’re looking for notable organisations or centres that offer psychological services for children, this is a good place to start.
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Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
