The theme for World Mental Health Day this year draws the attention of the international community to the threat that emotional and behavioural disorders pose to the mental health of children and adolescents because they do not receive quality care from the early years of life. 
This lack of care results in mental disorders which, in the long run, leaves indelible marks on, and reduces the capacities of, the affected individual and, hence, of the society as a whole, in terms of safety and productivity.

According to the World Federation for Mental Health which chose as theme for this year's World Mental Health Day, "The Emotional and Behavioural Disorders of Children and Adolescents", nearly 20% of children and adolescents suffer from disabling mental diseases.

In the African Region, the mental health of children and adolescents should be a major source of concern because children and adolescents make up nearly 50% of the population of the Region and 3% of children aged up to 9 years in the Region suffer from mental disorders. In fact, to address the problem of emotional and behavioural disorders as well as other mental health problems, the African Region has adopted a Regional Strategy for Mental Health for the period 2000-2010.

The causes of emotional and behavioural disorders may be biological, psychological, educational and cultural. Wars, population displacement, poverty and AIDS are all factors that aggravate these disorders, most frequent among which are psychomotor disorders resulting from mental deficiency or improperly treated epilepsy, anxiety, depression and behavioural disorders.

Anxiety is the manifestation of unwarranted and, sometimes, crippling fear that creates inhibition, agitation and lack of focus in the child who thus harbours a constant fear that there is impending misfortune. The situation can become even worse if the child is prone to serious illnesses and witnesses frequent occurrences of death attributed to cultural causes (e.g. whitchcraft, ghosts) that make the child feel unsafe.

Depression is a frequent disorder that can cause sadness, irritation and, often, tiredness in a child or adolescent who would then complain of difficulties of concentration, diminishing performance and numerous somatic and sleep disorders. A child in such condition is frequently haunted by the fear of death and, in serious cases, suicide attempts may ensue especially in the case of adolescents.

Manifestations of behavioural disorders include hyperactivity that may be disorderly, coupled with low attention and difficulties of learning; attitudinal disorders coupled with aggressiveness and self-inflicted violence and violence against others; withdrawal and strange behaviour; repetitive and uncontrollable movements; dependence on, or abusive use of alcohol, narcotics, tobacco and other sniffed substances.

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

To address the foregoing disorders, adults and parents should refrain from treating the affected child or adolescent as an idle or stubborn person, a situation which can mar the child-adult relation and hamper the ability to perceive the disorder as a symptom of suffering.

All the above disorders deserve to the managed and call for an approach based on mental health promotion strategies that have comprehensive care components. Sometimes, corrective measures such as lending children and adolescents a lenient ear, giving them special attention and ensuring appropriate change of attitudes towards the affected child or adolescent produce positive results. When faced with such worrying cases of disorders, parents and others concerned should enlist the help of professionals or of people experienced in this area.

Since the future of society depends on the health and well-being of children, countries are urged to develop and/or strengthen mental health policies and programmes, and to allocate adequate resources in order to provide families and communities with the care and support needed for the mental, physical and social development of youths.

Furthermore, countries should promote and implement promotional, preventive and treatment programmes and services to take care of each child who needs them . This year's World Mental Health Day focuses on children and adolescents and we should make it a point to protect them, their health and their mental balance, bearing in mind that children and adolescents will be the men and women of tomorrow.

For further information, please contact 

Flavienne Issembe
Public Information and Communication Unit
Tel.: (00-242) 839352, 83 9378, 83 9382
e-mai issembef [at] afro.who.int

or

Dr Thérèse Agossou, Mental Health Programme
Division of Noncomunicable Diseases
Tel.: (00-242) 83 939385 or 47241 39385
Email : regafro [at] afro.who.int