KidsMatter

I have been pretty quiet over the last few weeks. As many of you may have read on our SWSyd Facebook page, my daughter suffers from Generalised Anxiety Disorder and last week she moved to a new school. I know we typically write on this blog about our 12WBT journey, but today my post will be on raising awareness of childhood anxiety and depression...an illness that is very often overlooked.

Image via HERE.

Anxiety and depression run in my family and I have watched many of my family members suffer from these disorders. It is crushing to see your loved ones break apart in front of your eyes and watch them struggle from day to day. Watching my daughter suffer from anxiety and being told by her psychologist that she was on the verge of childhood depression absolutely broke my heart. Isabella is only SIX years old, and was diagnosed with her disorder at the age of FOUR. Too young to have to be dealing with these debilitating feelings and sadness, but unfortunately childhood anxiety and depression are on the rise.

The problem is, teachers in our primary schools do not know enough about childhood anxiety and depression. I should know - I am a teacher, and I've seen first hand how a lack of knowledge can disadvantage children suffering from mental illness. Unfortunately unlike a broken arm or a broken leg, mental illness can not be "seen"...and if it's out of sight, it's out of mind.

Well, that is not good enough.

What schools are failing to understand is that mental health and wellbeing is vital for learning and life. Children who are mentally healthy learn better and are better equipped to deal with the transition into adolescence and adulthood. If children struggle with their mental health in the primary school years and it's not dealt with, then it is quite often guarantied that they'll suffer depression later in life.

Some hard facts...

• The early years are a crucial time for growing healthy minds.
• It is estimated that one is seven school-age children has a mental health problem, and only one in four gets the help they need.
• In addition to feeling highly anxious, children’s thinking is usually affected. The threat or danger they are concerned about appears to them to be much greater than it actually is.
• Anxiety can result in physical difficulties such as sleeplessness, stomach aches, headaches, or diarrhoea. It can also involve irritability, difficulty concentrating and tiredness.
• Children with anxiety problems are often quiet and obedient. This can lead to their difficulties being OVERLOOKED.
• Feeling depressed is more than just feeling sad and depression in children is more common than most people would expect.
• Studies carried out in Australia and in the USA have estimated that 3% of children may suffer from depression.

The good news is that there is a program that is raising awareness of mental health in primary schools.

Image via HERE.

KidsMatter Primary is a national collaboration between the education and health sectors. It was jointly developed by the Principals Australia Institute, beyondblue, and the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

KidsMatter Primary aims to help:

• improve the mental health and wellbeing of primary school students
• reduce mental health problems in students
• achieve greater support for students with mental health problems and their families.
• nurture happy, balanced kids.

Isabella now attends a KidsMatter primary school. We made the decision to move her to a smaller school and one that truly cares about the mental health of their children. She has settled in quite well and wakes up in the morning wanting to go to school. She is smiling more and is happier. We have a long way to go in helping Isabella deal with her anxiety, but with a strong partnership between school, her psychologist and her loving family, I know we'll get there.