Access to health care and health insurance should be available, free of cost, for all citizens. A mental health program in schools and colleges to detect and treat mental illness in children and adolescents is essential.
Prevent and treat mental illness among children:
Mental illness among children is the most overlooked public health problem. Early identification and intervention could help improve recovery rates. It is imperative that the quality of services that children receive are consistently assessed and improved to prevent mental illness among adolescents and youth. Effective interventions could help prevent mental illness among children from becoming chronic, severe, and long-lasting, thereby preventing their access to and discontinuation of necessary mental health care.
It is recommended that the mental health systems in India should provide access to integrated mental health care services to children, adolescents, and young adults. There are a large number of non-communicable diseases that lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Treatment of non-communicable diseases should be integrated into the care of mental health. As children have to pass through adolescence in order to prevent mental illness, effective youth health services are necessary to ensure a healthy, active, and empowered youth.
Use psychological interventions in mental health programs:
Psychological interventions can help prevent the development and persistence of mental health problems. Research studies have indicated that psychological interventions can reduce relapse, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in patients with acute psychological problems, particularly in adolescents and young adults. Psychological interventions should be used for early diagnosis and prevention of mental illnesses among children, adolescents, and young adults.
Talk to your children about mental health:
Youngsters in India have little knowledge about mental health problems and mental illnesses, and do not speak openly with their parents about them. This is concerning as mental health problems are often misdiagnosed in children and young adults, and prolonged untreated mental illness can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, leading to suicide. Parents should teach children how to recognize and treat mental illness and talk openly to their children about mental health conditions.
Adolescents have an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Young adults usually have one or two mental health issues. Young adults who talk openly to their parents about mental health problems and other mental health conditions are more likely to have better mental health, better mental health care, and more satisfactory mental health outcomes.