As parents, we are always concerned about our children’s well-being. Whenever they fall sick, we try to get in touch with doctors to ensure that they are feeling alright. The same goes for their educational needs. Parents need to understand that children often face difficult challenges and situations, that they might be unable to voice as effectively as adults can.

Mental health is one area where parents would find it difficult to manage on their own. Experts point out that there might be numerous stresses and triggers that might engineer anxiety in young kids as well as teenagers. Getting professional help from therapists can shed light on such underlying concerns on mental health issues.

In this article, we are going to discuss five key signs that parents need to watch out for to understand if their kids need child counselling Singapore services. However, before we get to the list of signs, it would be worthwhile to discuss some common challenges and stresses that children face in their day-to-day lives.

What are the Causes of Poor Mental Health in Children?

According to experts, cases of poor mental health in children have become severe and common because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. While adults have been equally stressed because of the negativity and changes to their lives being made, kids have found it to be tougher.

For example, adults can take vaccinations and try to stay safe by following the COVID-19 protocols. Kids, on the other hand, cannot take the vaccination. This has forced them to be confined to their homes, not meet friends, or even go to school for their normal education.

All this can take a decent toll on young minds and make them depressed. Since most families have lost someone near and dear to them in the pandemic, kids have been unable to process the same as they would have in normal times.

The advent of social media and the impact it has had on young minds cannot be negated. This problem is more severe in teenagers that might be subject to peer pressure, sexual harassment, and even bullying online. They tend to hide these feelings and this leads to poor mental health.

List of 5 Signs that proves that your Child needs Counselling and Therapy

Unwanted defiance to instructions and commands

If you notice your kid arguing more than usual, or exhibiting signs of rage and violence every time you tell them to do something, maybe there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Counselors say that while normal levels of defiance are normal, they should not occur frequently. Parents need to stay in touch with teachers and friends of their children.

Taking up new habits and activities suddenly and without warning

One of the most common fallouts of poor mental health is kids resorting or forcing themselves into new activities suddenly. For example, if you find them using a specific type of social media platform and getting addicted to the same, there might be something bothering them. Likewise, if you see them demand an increase in pocket money, you need to find out what is happening.

Being anxious, stressed, and worrying all the time

Kids have a gift to be happy most of the time. In fact, the smallest things can make them happy. Feelings like sadness, worrying, or being anxious is not something that we usually relate to children. If you notice behavioral changes like your kid is not happy, or always has a frown on their face, it might be because of something that is worrying them.

Staying isolated and locked up in their rooms all the time

This is one of the easiest tell-tale signs that can inform you about your child’s mental health condition. As kids grow up, they require some kind of space and privacy. But if they are locked up in their rooms all the time, it might be because of some reason or another. They are either speaking to someone a lot, or they want to hide something from their parents.

Increasing conversations about injuries, self-harm, and death

These feelings emerge when a child starts to feel unwanted. If they are talking about self-harm or inflicting injuries, they might be feeling hopeless about their existence. They might start feeling that no one cares for them and it does not matter whether they exist or not. If your child suddenly starts talking about these subjects, maybe it’s time to seek professional help.

The Bottom Line

While some of these signs are obvious, others might require parents to spend more attention and increase engagement with their children. You need professional therapy to address mental health issues in children. If they stay unresolved, they can manifest themselves in dangerous ways. If you have any other questions on the topic and would want us to help you out, please let us know in the comments below.