Positive emotions are essential to a child’s mental wellbeing. It certainly doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work that out, I know! But the importance and impact of positive/negative emotions on our children can easily be overlooked. Perhaps because they can feel like intangible feelings that are difficult to measure.
In reality, we can look at a number of factors to measure the extent of positive emotions for a child. Factors such as self-esteem, confidence, and the ability to learn and get along with others, for example. Evidence of these and the extent to which they are present can help to determine a child’s future happiness and even their long term career success.
More children are struggling
Alongside a greater awareness of the need for positive emotions, we can see evidence of more and more children struggling to cope with problems such as bullying, social isolation, bereavement, family or academic problems. What’s more, a worrying 70% of them are not getting the psychological or practical support and help they need. Here’s a few statistics:
In the UK, 1 in 10 under 18-year-olds have a clinically diagnosable mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders or suicidal ideation.
1 in 5 teenage girls regularly self-harm.
Half of all these problems emerge before the age of 14 years, and if untreated continue into adulthood.
The importance of early intervention
While society continues to throw up more and more challenges for our children and young adults, the need for early support is vital. Whether you choose the NHS or private therapy, the most important thing is to seek help for your child as soon as possible.
The good news is psychotherapy and counselling can help children to learn techniques to overcome these challenges. It can help them gain greater awareness of problems as they occur and to equip them with the coping mechanisms they need for a positive and fulfilled life in an increasingly complex world.