There is a child mental health crisis globally. Half of mental health disorders are detected before the age of 14yrs. There are many reasons contributing to mental health problems: poverty, physical factors, child abuse, early trauma, etc. There is deep-rooted stigma attached to poor mental health which compounds the severity causing sufferers to be either too scared or ashamed to talk about it for fear of discrimination and alienation. Evidence shows that the sooner it is detected and receives early treatment, the better the outcome and more likely a crisis is prevented.
Discrimination is usually borne out of fear of the unknown and lack of understanding, it can be borne out of social, cultural, or religious stereotypes and practiced by family and friends alike. JWCA is raising awareness of mental health issues in children in order to remove the stigma and break the walls of silence that prevent children and families from seeking help on time. It is also working to raise awareness of the symptoms of poor mental health e.g. anxiety & depression, trouble sleeping & eating, worry amongst others so that early recognition can lead to early intervention. The impact of poor mental health in childhood cannot be underestimated. It has far reaching consequences for the individual and for society at large. Poor Mental health needs to be treated with compassion and understanding. Perhaps then, governments will raise it higher on the agenda and prioritise funding so that mental health services receive the recognition it deserves.