Happiness – such a simple word, but let’s ask ourselves, how many of us are truly happy? Parents, I’m sure that you agree that we want our children to be happy. As parents, that is everyone’s ultimate goal. We shower them with love and gifts, send them to good schools. We provide them with everything we think is gonna give them a happy life. But, are our children truly happy?
We constantly keep an eye on their physical health. But what about their mental health? This discussion has been bought up over and over again. Now, with the incident of the two teen girls who were found dead In Toa Payoh on April 3rd (Saturday), it has become a topic of debate again.
Two girls, aged 15 and 16 fell from the 26th floor of an HDB block and were pronounced dead on the scene by the paramedics. They were close friends and reportedly had identical bracelets on their bodies. The police suspect no foul play yet and said that the investigations are ongoing. This incident has come as a shock to many and has brought about a call for parents to be more attentive to their children. Depression and suicidal tendencies can develop in children easily and can often go unnoticed by parents. Parents often confuse their happiness and content level with their children’s. So, when they do well in school or win prizes, parents automatically assume that the children are happy and doing well. We don’t usually bother asking our children whether they are “actually” happy. Children and teenagers have an increased chance to develop mental health issues due to the changes in the brain during puberty and factors like parental pressure and a bad home environment. The misconceptions about mental health and not getting support from close ones can lead to them not getting the help they need. It is estimated that 18% of Singapore’s youth suffer from depression but the majority of them don’t seek help. WHO says that suicide is the third highest cause of death in children in the age group 15-19.
So, how can we identify depression or other mental issues in our children? There are no sure-fire methods to do that. But, there are some signs that you can be on the lookout for.
- Constantly feeling tired or irritable
- Social withdrawal
- Increased fear of rejection
- Sudden changes in appetite
- Finding difficult to hold attention or concentrate
- Ailments like constant headaches or upset stomachs that don’t respond to treatment
- Decreased academic performance
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Jokes about death or suicide
- Injuries or scars that they have no valid cause
If you notice any of these, pay close attention to their actions and intervene if necessary. Depression or other mental issues can be caused by several combinations of factors. Like happiness can come from the smallest things, depression also can arise from the smallest issues. So anyone is susceptible to these issues.
What can we do?
Communication is key
The most important thing you can do as a parent is to let your child know that you’re there for them and that they can talk about any issues plaguing them with you. Befriend your children. Don’t make them fear talking to you about any issue. Keep an open mind and listen to them when they talk about their problems.
Don’t put pressure on them to meet your expectations
Don’t make your children feel constantly pressured. Don’t make them feel like it is more important to meet your expectations than it is for them to be happy. Let them know that you value their efforts more than the results and it’s okay to fail sometimes.
Ensure that their home atmosphere is not toxic
Children grow up absorbing what they see around them. If you are constantly fighting with the people in your household, it is what the child grows accustomed to, and it can seriously hamper their mental development.
Don’t make them follow a strict routine
Allow children more time to play. Don’t fill all their time with classes, tuitions, and either practice sessions so that they can grow up to your expectations. Let them have more free time.
Look out for any signs of self-harm or any serious behavioural changes
If you notice any of them, talk to them or their friends. Seek professional help if needed. The stigma about seeking mental health help has to go. Not getting timely help can have serious repercussions.
As a parent, your action decides how your child grows up to be. The happiness you provide them now will help them be happier in the future. You can play a crucial role in ensuring a bright future by taking some care and caution. But you also have to keep in mind that over-caution can do more harm than good. While keeping an eye on your children is a good thing, constantly hovering over them is not a good thing. It can cause them to drift away from you. So, keep an eye on them while respecting their privacy.
If you feel there is some issue your child is facing, offer a helping hand. If it is something you can’t help them with, offer them access to professional help. A little support from your part will go a long way in helping your child to be really happy, from the bottom of their heart. 🙂
Exam Smart Tips
Exam Smart Tip #1 – How to Encourage Our Kids to Speak Better?
Exam Smart Tip #2 – How to avoid carelessness?
Exam Smart Tip #3 – Establishing Routines!
Exam Smart Tip #4 – Let’s Read Carefully!
Exam Smart Tip #5 – Beating the Exam Fever!
Exam Smart Tip #6 – How to Eat Right for the Exams?
Exam Smart Tip #7 – How to Avoid a Meltdown?
Exam Smart Tip #8 – Taking Stress out of Tests
Who We Are
Mission statement – “Empower every student to achieve full potential”
88tuition Pte Ltd offers the best PSLE Tuition Singapore for children looking to ace the PSLE exam. With effective learning materials and high-quality explanatory videos by experienced trainers, children are provided with the best online PSLE tuition.
With the basics learnt well, children will be able to grasp advanced concepts easily. Looking for the best PSLE math tuition, PSLE Science tuition and PSLE English tuition in Singapore? 88tuition has got you covered. The online training videos and assessments are designed in a way that children are made to enjoy the learning process.
UEN 201817310C
271 Bukit Timah Road; #03-08; Singapore 259708
