Advert About Children And Their Mental Health.

No I didn’t like it when I saw it I think there is too much emphasise on adult situations and not necessary for children of primary school age to know about UNLESS they ask

Let kids be kids, a 7/8 year old shouldn’t be having to worry about others’ mental health problems, and if they have problems themselves hopefully they ll be picked up and offered help individually
Having unhappy childhoods or worrying about parents situations is NOT mental health it’s situations that may need talking about and giving calm advice

Childhood is so short why do they need to worry unless it affects them
Let them run and jump and play and giggle and hopefully they will be rounded adults it’s hard enough having the knowledge of severe mental health on your shoulders as an adult

I keep reminding myself that just because we didn't talk about those things in the past doesn't mean they didn't exist. Children may have suffered all manner of anxieties, fears or worry but couldn't tell a teacher or a friend, certainly not when I was a child. I'm thinking of a dear little blonde boy at my primary school who later became a teacher and was eventually arrested for downloading thousands of images of child pornography. I just wondered what he had been through as a little child and who could he have talked to in the 1950s.

Joseann

It's tough out there for children of all ages.
The reason for the younger ones' mental health coming to the fore now is that previously there were very few indicators or reports on mental health drawn up in the 7 - 11 age range. The lack of data for this age group was highlighted during covid and I think we should all be pleased that serious problems are now being recognised early on. (In my experience probably 3 or 4 kids out of a class of 24).
Having said that, I agree with you Calendargirl thatvwe don't need to be putting old heads on young shoulders before there is any need for it. For example, why does a young 8 or 9 year old need to discuss household income, jobs, their own economic worth etc.? Time for that later on.

I clearly remember being distressed about my parents' financial situation when I was 8 or 9. Nobody discussed it with me, but it was difficult not to overhear or be involved with the arguments between my parents about money.

I think it’s really sad to hear young children even talking about such things. I honestly don’t recall even hearing about the words mental health, anxiety etc until I was about 13 and some other girls were talking about a girl whose Mum was in a mental hospital with depression.

I think I used to hear things like “she lives on her nerves” but that was all.

Children have always had things they worry about, many on here have talked of unhappy childhoods worrying about what now seems trivial. It is a good thing that they are encouraged to share their worries and to find out they are not alone in thinking certain ways and maybe find solutions to their problems.

It's tough out there for children of all ages.
The reason for the younger ones' mental health coming to the fore now is that previously there were very few indicators or reports on mental health drawn up in the 7 - 11 age range. The lack of data for this age group was highlighted during covid and I think we should all be pleased that serious problems are now being recognised early on. (In my experience probably 3 or 4 kids out of a class of 24).
Having said that, I agree with you Calendargirl thatvwe don't need to be putting old heads on young shoulders before there is any need for it. For example, why does a young 8 or 9 year old need to discuss household income, jobs, their own economic worth etc.? Time for that later on.

Good post, GrannyGravy

paddyann54

Tens of thousands of young people have mental health issues since covid .Two of my 4 GD's have quite severe problems ,one cant bear to be in a busy room or bus .I think a lot of us older folk dont realise the issues caused by covid .We're lucky ,our girls have fantastic support from councellors in and out of school .

Yes, they have had and continue to have a very disrupted time with lockdowns, now some schools are closed with structural problems. Covid is still around too, it hasn't gone away.
Fear seemed to have been instilled in the population at a vulnerable time in their lives.
Their exams have been disrupted, marking methods have altered in some parts of the UK but not others.

Even friendship groups can have changed as some children were isolated from their peer groups.

No wonder more are suffering from anxiety.
The available help is very patchy too.

If they did catch Covid this could have had long-term effects such as brain fog and there is research into this now.

I'm glad your DGD are getting the help they need paddyann.

eazybee

This is putting even more pressure on teachers.
I don't think it is a coincidence that these problems have arisen since children spent more time closeted with their parents and families; school does an awful lot to compensate that has been unseen and unrecognised.

I do not think it was just being closeted with their parents and families which has caused so much more anxiety in children post Covid.

In my opinion it was the constant media coverage during Covid, sound bites of don’t kill your granny and not interacting with their peers other than online.

Children are mostly pack animals babies were not socialised, toddlers were unable to go to groups, along with school age children missing out on so much. Education is far more than sitting in front of a computer screen/tablet/mobile phone doing set pieces of work

Now society is paying in many ways.

This is putting even more pressure on teachers.
I don't think it is a coincidence that these problems have arisen since children spent more time closeted with their parents and families; school does an awful lot to compensate that has been unseen and unrecognised.

I am glad mental health is being normalized- for all ages

Kids are put under so much pressure and plenty of adults tend to minimize it

Tens of thousands of young people have mental health issues since covid .Two of my 4 GD's have quite severe problems ,one cant bear to be in a busy room or bus .I think a lot of us older folk dont realise the issues caused by covid .We're lucky ,our girls have fantastic support from councellors in and out of school .

Don't worry too much - children don't watch tele anymore!