Stress, Lifestyle Changes Affect Mental Health in Children

Health experts say that one in four children in India have mental illnesses and that it should be addressed in the same manner as other diseases.

Stress and lifestyle changes affect the mental health in some children. One in every four children suffer from mental illness, said an expert on the technical workshop held in Bhopal on National Mental Health Policy and State Mental Health Plan.

Dr. RN Sahu, HoD (psychiatry) Gandhi Medical College and secretary of Madhya Pradesh State Mental Health Authority, said, “Stress issues accompanied by other lifestyle changes are reflecting in our children too. Disorderly behavior, too introvert or excessive aggression, unable to perform in school are some of the symptoms that need to be identified by parents and require medical help.”

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Mental illnesses should be addressed in the same manner as other diseases. With medication and psychosocial intervention, 90% of all mental illnesses can be treated, said Dr. Sahu.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, mental health disorders account for 10 percent of global burden of disease. But only 0.84 percent of the health budget goes to mental healthcare. One in every four people will be affected by mental illness at least once in their lifetime.

The workshop organized by National Heath Mission (NHM) and State Health Department focused on the need for government and society to create a positive atmosphere for patients suffering from mental health disorders.

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Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to organize such a workshop in the wake of National Mental Health Policy of India (2014). Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Director of NHM MP, said, “ NHM is committed to conduct and fund health programme in 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh.”

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Source-Medindia

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