Lifestyle changes, competitive environment, growing expectations, and comparison have increased the mental stress among many adolescents. However, many of them choose to sweep their mental health struggle under the carpet rather than speak about them due to the fear of reaction from their parents, teacher, and peers. 

Dr. Samir Parikh, Mental health and Behavioural science, Fortis Healthcare stated that 10% of all the youngsters experience a mental health disorder with a majority of them disregarding it. He stated that the struggle with mental health in the early year of growth impacts an individual’s psycho-social development with a long-lasting effect on their academics, relationships, behavioral traits, self-confidence, and lifestyle. He added that many a time, children don’t discuss their mental struggles with others due to fear of being misunderstood, judged, mocked, or ignored. Sometimes, the kids or teens may not have the awareness or vocabulary to fully express their situation.

He stressed that as an adult, it is our responsibility to create an open, safe, and understanding space for children to express their emotions. He explained that art and play can be helpful tools for youngsters to express themselves without being judged. He also added that encouraging social, emotional, and physiological development is the need of the hour with mental health literacy introduced into the curriculum. Children should be taught to understand mental health in the same way as physical well-being and parental or psychiatric help should be taken to reduce the stigma and fear of judgment related to it.