Experts Urge Parents to Prioritise Children’s Mental Health

Experts Urge Parents to Prioritise Children’s Mental Health

Experts have urged parents to pay greater attention to their children’s mental health by fostering a supportive home environment, maintaining open communication, and regularly monitoring emotional well-being.

They emphasised that nurturing strong parent-child relationships, maintaining consistent routines, and encouraging healthy social connections are essential for mental development. When concerns arise, parents should consult doctors for screenings and seek professional help without stigma.

Most parents tend to focus on their children’s physical health while neglecting mental and emotional growth, the experts noted. They warned that a child who does not develop mentally can ultimately become a burden on the family, society, and the nation.

Experts explained that health consists of both physical and mental components. While parents often ensure proper food, clothing, and treatment for physical growth, they frequently overlook their child’s psychological needs. Yet, mental growth is vital for building a healthy, productive generation.

They added that children learn and grow mentally through interactions with their family, teachers, and friends. Parents’ behaviour plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s emotional stability and curiosity. Suppressing a child’s natural inquisitiveness, they cautioned, can hinder intellectual and emotional growth.

The experts further said that creating a friendly and disciplined home atmosphere helps children build a strong mental foundation, enabling them to become confident and responsible citizens.

They cited examples where a lack of parental care and family conflict led to negative outcomes. In one case, a boy named Adib turned to drugs after losing his father and facing neglect from his mother. In another, a girl named Nadia dropped out of school despite having the means to study further, due to frequent quarrels between her parents.

Experts stressed that children learn from what they see at home. Acts of anger, cruelty, or resentment in front of them can leave deep psychological scars. Childhood, they said, is the foundation for lifelong learning and emotional balance — and nurturing it with love and care is every parent’s responsibility.