The statistics that we looked at in module 3.1 make for interesting reading, and it is worth noting that in recent years the number of children suffering has risen by 50%, and with the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can only see these percentages rising.
(Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020)
The toll that has been put on children with regards to schoolwork, gender identities, feeling the pressure to conform to societal standards can be attributed to the pressure on mental health and emotional well being.
It is not just the immediate effects, such as anxiety or depression, but on the long term physical health of a person, long term mental health problems can contribute to strokes, different dementias. These not just being the province of the elderly, but can be a contributing factor to the early onset of dementia, which affects those under 65. (www.dementiauk.org )
It can make for sobering reading, and where do we start? Who is the priority with regards to well being and good emotional health?
Everyone should be the priority.
When we talk to expectant parents about emotional well being and mental health, this is sometimes the first conversation they have around the subject and are only just beginning to realise the effects on themselves and their baby, and the statistics around perinatal mental health for both the pregnant person and their baby.
It affects around 20% of birthing people (that we are aware, or those that are clinically diagnosed) and around 1 in 10 of partners, again those that disclose that may be suffering from any form of perinatal mental health distress, whether that is anxiety , depression or PTSD. (Home | Mind)