{"id":3982,"date":"2020-10-05T20:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T09:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/ccch\/?p=3982"},"modified":"2021-03-22T09:20:38","modified_gmt":"2021-03-21T22:20:38","slug":"advocating-for-childrens-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/ccch\/2020\/10\/05\/advocating-for-childrens-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocating for children’s\u00a0mental\u00a0health\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Professor Frank Oberklaid and Dr Tim Moore contribute witness statements to the Royal Commission into Victoria\u2019s Mental Health System. Access their statements and learn about the importance of the first thousand days, and why language matters for children\u2019s mental health.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Children\u2019s mental and emotional health\u00a0are\u00a0essential components\u00a0of early development, yet,\u00a0research, policy and health advocates often observe a lack of awareness or understanding of child mental health. The language we choose to use\u00a0can play a role\u00a0in raising awareness and moving people to act to protect children\u2019s mental health.<\/p>\n

Language and child mental health\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Professor Frank Oberklaid, Foundation Director of the Centre for Community Child Health and Co-Group Leader of Child Health Policy, Equity and Translation at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute suggests the way we talk about children\u2019s mental health can help children and families to receive the support and care they need to thrive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe term mental health can be a barrier to some parents seeking help with concerns about behaviour, anxiety and depression, and many are reluctant to acknowledge that their child has a mental health problem,\u201d\u00a0says Prof Oberklaid.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to talk about mental health in a way that resonates with parents and enables them to raise concerns and seek support early. We have been testing the idea of a continuum rather than talking about mental health problems and specific diagnoses; this groups children along the continuum as being healthy, coping, struggling or unwell. There has been strong support for beginning to change the language in this way, and hopefully, this will reduce stigma and encourage parents to seek help earlier if their child is struggling.”<\/p>\n

Learn more with\u00a0Professor Oberklaid\u2019s\u00a0witness statement for the\u00a0Royal\u00a0Commission<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The\u00a0importance of the\u00a0first 1000 days\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A range of experiences in the first\u00a0thousand\u00a0days \u2013 the period from conception, throughout pregnancy, and during a child\u2019s first two years, are capable of impacting on children\u2019s emotional, physical, and mental health. Research has also linked many challenges of adult life such as mental health problems and obesity with processes and experiences that take place during the first\u00a0thousand\u00a0days.<\/p>\n

Building strong foundations in early life is critical for supporting healthy development, and health and wellbeing into adulthood, including positive mental health.<\/p>\n

Dr Tim Moore,\u00a0Senior Research Fellow at the Centre,\u00a0says\u00a0\u201cthere needs to be a greater policy focus on ensuring\u00a0that all\u00a0families have the conditions they need to raise\u00a0their\u00a0children\u00a0as they (and we) would wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Moore\u00a0highlights\u00a0a variety of conditions that\u00a0influence\u00a0children\u2019s health and development,\u00a0some of these\u00a0include:<\/p>\n