SOME experts have said parents can prevent their children from having mental health problems. At a symposium organised by thecoronaschools’trustcouncil, a physiotherapist, Gbemisola Ogunrinde, said when a child’s self-esteem was affected it could lead to a mental health crisis.

 

According to Ogunrinde, selfesteem problem can occur when a child is struggling academically without parental support. She said, “The only solution is that parents, teachers and guardians must teach children how to like and value themselves, trust them to be able to take some decisions that affect their lives, recognise their strengths, help them to try new or difficult things.”

 

A mental health physician, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, debunked the notion that children couldn’t get depressed. Kadiri said, “People often believe that children can’t get depressed. But forget that depression is not bound by age, colour or race. As a parent, you must note that your biggest asset in life is your child, hence you must intentionally connect with them. Because it is only when you connect with them that you will notice a decline in their school performance.”