We often talk about adult mental health but children also can suffer with their mental health, and those children who find themselves faced with a family breakdown can suffer greatly.
If we go back to the beginning men and women enable the continuity of life for perpetuity. Families are the bedrock of our society, the foundations for life to continue.
When a child is born they are dependant on the adults around them, they can not survive on their own.
Being part of a happy loving family enables that child to learn and grow, to have stability is fundamental to that child’s development.
We all thrive if we feel safe and loved.
It is within those relationships that a child learns how to communicate, think, learn, behave etc, within those relationships the adults in that child’s life can reassure, encourage and share the ups and downs of growing up together.
So what happens if all of that security appears to be breaking down, those people who have been your bedrock start to crumble?
Children are enveloped by feelings of huge sadness,anxiety,confusion, guit, some children will ‘act out’ these emotions in their behaviour, according to their age.
For any child family breakdown is a traumatic experience , making them vulnerable to depression and emotional issues.
As adults we must make sure that we tune in to the needs of these vulnerable children.
As parents we may fall out of love with our spouse/partner but we must show the children that we still love them, and that whatever happens we will always put their needs first.
In this Children’s Mental Health Week, it is important to highlight the effect family breakdown can have on children, and to ensure they are supported.
For more information https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/
