IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– 1 in 7 children in the United States has their mental health issues overlooked. The main reason their mental needs are not noticed is because children do not communicate like we do. Instead they use tools, such as toys, games, and art.
“Many children experienced, like, abuse, neglect, divorce, bullying, violence. Those are some of the things that give kids instability, community trauma,” Dr. Tamara Pettingill, the clinical social worker & director of Pettingill Counseling. “Kids are under a lot more stress nowadays, I think, than they were before. And so it’s important to address that. And sometimes they do get overlooked”
If you notice your child may be having mental health issues, that does not make you a bad parent and you should not fear judgement.
“You’re not a failure,” Dr. Pettingill said. “Parents are doing the best that they can. And we’ve got a lot of, things that we have to take care of, along with not just one child, but more children. And then usually parents are working, trying to make a living. And so no, parents are not failures. They’re doing the best that they can with the, skills that they have.”
Research by the National Institute of Mental Health has found that play therapy helps children communicate their emotions. Play therapy involves playing, whether with toys, games, art, etc.
“The therapy gives children basically self-esteem, self-worth, similar to, you know, work through their feelings,” Dr. Pettingill stated. “They validate and give tools for healing.”
Mental health professionals encourage parents, guardians, and grandparents, to pay close attention to their child’s emotional well-being. Taking care of emotional problems now could prevent many problems in their adult future.
Resources:
National Institute of Mental Health : Children and Mental Health
