This Saturday, people around the world are coming together to observe World Mental Health Day. After a year marked by profound change and uncertainty, much of the population has had to confront new challenges. Increased social isolation, instability, and grief are just a few pandemic challenges that continue to cause people poor mental health, and it is not only adults who are suffering.
Stress and anxiety are also becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, these reoccurring negative feelings are incredibly detrimental to the health and wellbeing of young people.
According to a recent study, prolonged stress can have a serious negative impact on children's health. What is more, prolonged childhood anxiety can disrupt a child's developing brain. Total Health published an article on the connection between stress, social networking, and teen alcoholism.
Children are particularly susceptible to a range of different stressors and busy schedules and heightened expectations are just two of the most common. As parents and caregivers, it is our job to recognise the telltale signs and root causes of our children's emotional problems. If we remain attentive, we can help our children confront, cope with and even overcome their fears.
Fortunately, there are plenty of steps that you can take to help your children overcome potentially stressful adversities. For example, did you know that you can help your child overcome stress by simply giving them extra reassurance? Were you aware that children need daily encouragement and the support of trustworthy adults and peers? Would you have guessed that reducing a child's stress can sometimes be as easy as regulating their daily schedule?
Parents do their best to prepare their children for a lifetime of happiness and success, but sometimes this is not enough.
WeTheParents has compiled a list of 12 of the most common sources of stress in children and adolescents. They've also provided a number of stress-busting tips for children and adolescents.
See infographic - below:
