How to help children cope with mental disorders during the pandemic?

How to help children cope with mental disorders during the pandemic
How to help children cope with mental disorders during the pandemic

The pandemic has not only ruined the school-going experience for students but has also negatively affected their mental health. It has been observed that 1 out of every 5 students is suffering from some kind of mental disorder.

The major symptoms of mental instability include – depression, anxiety, unhelpful changes in behavior, stress, etc. According to the latest studies, it is clearly indicated that there is a 31% hike in the cases of mental disorders amongst children between the age group of 12 to 18 years.

Considering the current scenario, the need of finding the best therapist London is at its peak. It is of sheer importance to provide necessary help to students for sustaining all of the social distancing norms along with their struggles to adjust to such a constraining lifestyle.

Amidst all their struggles, one of the major challenges is to prepare students to return to school. Some necessary and essential steps should be taken to make sure that the students are well-prepared as they plan their return to the school.

Let us look at some of the ways that can be helpful for students to improve their mental health.

How to support a student’s mental health:

There are surely improvements in many areas affected by the pandemic; however, the mental health of students may need some time to recover.

Students should be given the understanding that all of the things they used to enjoy will return. Thus, along with the efforts of the psychotherapist London, some adjustments should also be made at the other end.

So, what can actually be done in the matter? Here are some helpful tips that can be tried:

1. Talk with the students:

One of the simplest ways that you can rely on is talking with students. Be open with your communications to know their state of mind for understanding their side of the story. This will also be helpful to be aware of all the things and thoughts that are haunting them for their returning to the school.

As you communicate with them, you can also share your experiences and stories to help them relate to the entire scenario. Just remember a few motivational words from your side can really make a lot of difference.

2. Focus on the 3 E’s:

As it has been really challenging for most of us to cope with the changing surroundings, the same has been more difficult for the students. It is quite normal if they need more time to understand the adjusted elements within their surroundings.

Therefore, it is very important to have a sincere focus on the essential 3 E’s that can provide the needed support to the students and children. The 3 E’s that you should focus on are:

  • Empathy – maintain a level of empathy with your child. Understand their perspective on the matter even if you are aware of it. Don’t be emotionless about their problems. Make sure to let them know you are there to support and help them deal with the changing surroundings.
  • Empowerment – after you are aware of your child’s feelings, provide them the empowerment that they need. Be motivational towards them by encouraging them to enjoy the current situation. Divert their focus on the positive sides of the situation so that they all can feel good about it and positively return to school.
  • Engagement – along with your empathy and empowerment, keep your child engaged with the various activities that they enjoy. Support them to pursue all their plans and activities that they have been planning ever since.

3. Look out for an effective therapist:

Last but not least, to help your child get the best help for their mental disorders, you should not hesitate to look for an effective therapist. Seeking the help of the professionals in the psychotherapy city of London will show some great positive results within no time.

Reach out to the therapist and arrange some beneficial sessions for the kid that can improve their mental well-being. You can either arrange a personal session or can enroll them in a group session to get the best help.

Final concluding thoughts:

It is natural for some students to feel anxious and worried while returning to school. However, just a little support from your side can make a huge difference. You should plan some thorough strategies to help your kids be successful with their return to school. How are you planning to help your kids with their state of mind? Let us know in the comments.