Psychiatrist Says Children Can Develop Same Mental Health Problems As Adults

Dr Oluwayemi Ogun, a Consultant Psychiatrist, has said that children can develop the same mental health conditions as adults but, their symptoms may be different.

Ogun said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Vanguard 2nd Mental Health Summit in Lagos.

According to her, mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviours, social skills or regulation of emotions.

She said these problems are distressing to children and can disrupt their ability to function well at home, in school or in other social situations.

She explained that 50 per cent of mental health problems become established by the age of 14 and 75 per cent by age of 24.

She added that the causes of mental health and developmental disorder in children could be linked to inadequate parenting, bullying, physical illness, drug misuse, inadequate spacing of children and unwanted pregnancy, genetic background, exposure to trauma, violence, alcohol use and depression.

According to her, some of the protective factors against children's mental health conditions include parents/caregivers, a safe school environment and discipline, saying that parents should adequately care for and monitor their children closely to identify when there are changes in their behaviours.

“A child is a human being below the age of 18 years. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and are able to function at home, in school and in other community functions.

“Because no one is immune to mental health conditions, children too can develop the same mental health conditions as adults but, their symptoms may be different.

“Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones, learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems.

“Therefore, parents and caregivers as protective factors should enrol in parent training programmes that can help them to learn more about the warning signs and symptoms of mental health conditions for better management/care.

“They can also explore stress management techniques in order to help the children respond calmly,” Ogun said.