The pandemic has had the greatest impact on two aspects of children’s lives: school and mental health. Sources have it that one in every five children suffers from a mental disorder in any given year, including anxiety, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and behavioral disorders. Now, two years into the pandemic, the prevalence of mental health issues has risen even further and to deal with it mental counselling kolkata for kids has also become important.
The ensuing problem
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a 31% increase in mental health-related problems among children aged between 12 to 17. Reduced social norms, virus fears, and a lack of in-person contact have all contributed to the escalating mental health crisis affecting children. When the time comes for them to return to school, the transition will be difficult and only a kids’ counselling expert can help cope with it.
Although some of the pandemic’s negative effects are gradually improving, the mental health consequences may take longer to heal. COVID-19 has been a traumatic stressor for many children. While glimpses of “normalcy” are beginning to emerge, many children will discover that the activities they had hoped to resume, such as school, will not return to the state they remember before the pandemic. In such a case you must take your child for child counselling sessions.
Helping children with mental disorders
When preparing your child to return to school, keep in mind that most children, whether they have a mental disorder or not, will experience some anxiety about returning to school. In addition, many schools have devised strategies to assist students in readjusting to life back on campus.
- It is also worth remembering that many teachers genuinely care about their students and want them to succeed.
- Most teachers are not trained to recognise early warning signs of mental health issues and to interact appropriately with students who are experiencing such difficulties.
- Teachers require top-to-down support, beginning with parents and online psychological experts, to help students succeed.
Schools should give enough space to teachers to help the children recover from this shock.
The 3 E’s
Use the Three E’s to Help Your Child Know They’re Not Alone Seek to comprehend your child’s point of view from their point of view.
- Empathy: Even if you believe you know how your child is feeling or what they are thinking, you should give them the opportunity to express themselves. It is not uncommon for a child to put on a mask to hide their emotions to convince their parents that they are happy or that nothing is wrong. To ensure that you understand how your child feels, ask open-ended questions. Top kids counselling in kolkata sessions would ask you to discuss some questions with your child openly. For example, to learn more about how your child feels about returning to school, you could ask, “What are some of the things you are most looking forward to about returning to school?” You could then ask, “What are the things you will miss the most about attending school from home?”
- Empowerment: Once you understand how your child feels, you can empower them to devise strategies to alleviate their anxiety and disorder, and address any issues that are bothering them. It can be beneficial to have them role-play specific fears or concerns they may have about situations they may encounter once they return to school. Counselling kolkata helps you to learn about ways that will teach you the techniques and the methods to empower your child.
- Engagement: It entails assisting your child in carrying out their plans by providing support and checking in regularly. Keep your child engaged in building positivity so that they can deal with the situations around them while in school.
Child counselling in kolkata is your weapon to combat the insecurities that your child is likely to face when he/she has to return to school. You would find this counselling service extremely helpful when you will notice that your child is coping well with the situation.
MindYog gives you the ultimate solution to deal with the troubled minds of children. Contact us and book your slot today. Let your child see a better tomorrow and live a happier life when they return to school.
Review: I was worried about my child’s mental health but thankfully I came across MindYog’s kids’ counselling. – Radhika Kapoor, Siliguri
