| Child mental health crisis. 08:05 - Feb 7 with 5624 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/07/childrens-emergency-mental-healt
"Record numbers of children and young people are seeking help for mental health problems. In 2022 alone, 1.4 million were referred to child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs) for treatment of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and other psychological problems.
But as demand soars for children’s mental healthcare and support, Camhs teams are struggling to see or treat children quickly enough. Experts say that is leading to thousands of under-18s getting even sicker while on waiting lists, prompting a 53% rise in emergency and urgent referrals for Camhs crisis care.
An emergency referral is normally made if a child needs to be seen within 24 hours. They might be a risk to themselves due to suicidal feelings, have a significant health risk because of an illness such as anorexia or have another serious mental health condition, experts said."
A quick Google suggests that there are about 10 million 5 to 18 year olds in the UK so that is about 1 in 7 seeking help. Something is seriously wrong with the society we have created.
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| Child mental health crisis. on 09:08 - Feb 7 with 3695 views | NthQldITFC |
I caught some of a very interesting (and very troubling) discussion on R4 this morning about the horrific damage that access to smartphones - or more accurately unsupervised Internet access - is doing to kids of primary school age. Don't give in parents.
We have to accept that the human race is proving incapable of handling, on physical and psychological levels, the technology is has been clever enough to create either on a personal or a worldwide scale.
Until we're honest enough with ourselves to start having these sorts of discussions about how to turn our lazy minds away from nice shiny things for our own good, we're just going to spiral down a self-made sinkhole.
You might want to dismiss that as doom-laden or negative or something - but it is fundamentally true, isn't it? |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 09:19 - Feb 7 with 3672 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Child mental health crisis. on 09:08 - Feb 7 by NthQldITFC |
I caught some of a very interesting (and very troubling) discussion on R4 this morning about the horrific damage that access to smartphones - or more accurately unsupervised Internet access - is doing to kids of primary school age. Don't give in parents.
We have to accept that the human race is proving incapable of handling, on physical and psychological levels, the technology is has been clever enough to create either on a personal or a worldwide scale.
Until we're honest enough with ourselves to start having these sorts of discussions about how to turn our lazy minds away from nice shiny things for our own good, we're just going to spiral down a self-made sinkhole.
You might want to dismiss that as doom-laden or negative or something - but it is fundamentally true, isn't it? |
Couldn't agree more.
In reality they will probably all end up wearing virtual headsets being taught by imaginary teachers! | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 09:47 - Feb 7 with 3634 views | Basuco |
| Child mental health crisis. on 09:08 - Feb 7 by NthQldITFC |
I caught some of a very interesting (and very troubling) discussion on R4 this morning about the horrific damage that access to smartphones - or more accurately unsupervised Internet access - is doing to kids of primary school age. Don't give in parents.
We have to accept that the human race is proving incapable of handling, on physical and psychological levels, the technology is has been clever enough to create either on a personal or a worldwide scale.
Until we're honest enough with ourselves to start having these sorts of discussions about how to turn our lazy minds away from nice shiny things for our own good, we're just going to spiral down a self-made sinkhole.
You might want to dismiss that as doom-laden or negative or something - but it is fundamentally true, isn't it? |
Yes, a presenter on 5 live said, ISP are very quick to take down sports sites, probably premier league illegal streams, but are unable to take down sites to protect our children. |  | | |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:07 - Feb 7 with 3601 views | RobTheMonk |
It's no surprise when they're constantly bombarded with 'perfect life' social media posts and reality TV shows like Love Island. |  | | |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:11 - Feb 7 with 3580 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Child mental health crisis. on 09:08 - Feb 7 by NthQldITFC |
I caught some of a very interesting (and very troubling) discussion on R4 this morning about the horrific damage that access to smartphones - or more accurately unsupervised Internet access - is doing to kids of primary school age. Don't give in parents.
We have to accept that the human race is proving incapable of handling, on physical and psychological levels, the technology is has been clever enough to create either on a personal or a worldwide scale.
Until we're honest enough with ourselves to start having these sorts of discussions about how to turn our lazy minds away from nice shiny things for our own good, we're just going to spiral down a self-made sinkhole.
You might want to dismiss that as doom-laden or negative or something - but it is fundamentally true, isn't it? |
What was already an issue re smartphone usage/social media has been seriously exacerbated by COVID too.
A relative of mine is a teacher and said it is absolutely tragic how many kids are just totally damaged by a combination of the two factors. Lack of socialisation, concentration issues, anxiety, lack of interpersonal skills, obsession with appearance, general unhappiness with who they are and their lives relative to people they see behind a screen - it is a real negative mixing pot.
I am in my 30's and I am grateful I never had to contend with some of the issues kids now have to, that is for sure. Being a teenager has always been a difficult time but it's especially hard at the moment. It's all too easy for them to 'find the answers' in all the wrong places online. |  | | |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:27 - Feb 7 with 3535 views | DJR |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:11 - Feb 7 by tractorboy1978 |
What was already an issue re smartphone usage/social media has been seriously exacerbated by COVID too.
A relative of mine is a teacher and said it is absolutely tragic how many kids are just totally damaged by a combination of the two factors. Lack of socialisation, concentration issues, anxiety, lack of interpersonal skills, obsession with appearance, general unhappiness with who they are and their lives relative to people they see behind a screen - it is a real negative mixing pot.
I am in my 30's and I am grateful I never had to contend with some of the issues kids now have to, that is for sure. Being a teenager has always been a difficult time but it's especially hard at the moment. It's all too easy for them to 'find the answers' in all the wrong places online. |
My daughter, a primary school teacher in year 1, would back this up.
Many of her children don't have the respect or attention span that they would have had at one time, and I don't think the pandemic will have helped because the children have missed out on a large chunk of pre-school and many will presumably have been given a tablet or the like to keep them occupied.
As a result, many are reluctant to learn, but put on a video and they're glued. |  | | |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:52 - Feb 7 with 3454 views | brazil1982 |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:27 - Feb 7 by DJR |
My daughter, a primary school teacher in year 1, would back this up.
Many of her children don't have the respect or attention span that they would have had at one time, and I don't think the pandemic will have helped because the children have missed out on a large chunk of pre-school and many will presumably have been given a tablet or the like to keep them occupied.
As a result, many are reluctant to learn, but put on a video and they're glued. |
My partner's niece is given free-rein to watch youtube etc, she's 8. Never off her tablet or phone. Never seen her read a book.
Lectures at University - after 5 minutes, half the audience are on their phones and most have their laptops open, probably watching youtube or highlights of last night's match. |  | | |
| Child mental health crisis. on 13:45 - Feb 7 with 3300 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:52 - Feb 7 by brazil1982 |
My partner's niece is given free-rein to watch youtube etc, she's 8. Never off her tablet or phone. Never seen her read a book.
Lectures at University - after 5 minutes, half the audience are on their phones and most have their laptops open, probably watching youtube or highlights of last night's match. |
It's hard enough for a lot of adults to regulate their screen time and social media use so it should hardly be a surprise to us that teenagers and younger kids struggle with it. Johann Hari is good on this, his book 'Stolen Focus' is excellent. You get a flavour for it in the article below.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/02/attention-span-focus-screens-app [Post edited 7 Feb 2024 13:46]
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| Child mental health crisis. on 15:16 - Feb 7 with 3218 views | itfcjoe |
Listened to an interesting discussion about this the other day - talking about how there is so much talk of mental health, and anxiety, and it is just so much discussions everywhere for young people it can push people down that path when their issues can be quite minor or normal, or totally inconsequential generally.....
.....but then when they are then down that road it becomes incredible severe and dangerous for them.
The example an expert gave was that there was a girl who had something wrong with her eye, but it was totally indistinguishable, but the girl had built it up so much, she was now in a total spiral and was a really severe case now.
How do you change that though, how do you stop people judging themselves by harsher and harsher standards and developing mental health issues that way? |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:00 - Feb 7 with 3141 views | monkeymagic |
In my experience, adult services are even more difficult to access : & that’s assuming the person is actually willing to get help. Despite science and health care breakthroughs, technology and convenience, we seem to be in an awful state mentally compared to prior generations that had so little. Perhaps capitalism and material gain isn’t all it’s cracked up to be….. | | | |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:11 - Feb 7 with 3126 views | nodge_blue |
Are too many children relying on services but really they need their parents to be their rock? |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:11 - Feb 7 with 3124 views | NthQldITFC |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:00 - Feb 7 by monkeymagic |
In my experience, adult services are even more difficult to access : & that’s assuming the person is actually willing to get help. Despite science and health care breakthroughs, technology and convenience, we seem to be in an awful state mentally compared to prior generations that had so little. Perhaps capitalism and material gain isn’t all it’s cracked up to be….. |
Indeed. In an unconstrained system, material gain, population, environmental protection and mental wellbeing could all increase together - but on our fixed planetary system we're obsessed by the first, ignoring the second and trying not to think about the demise of the last two. | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:32 - Feb 7 with 3102 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:11 - Feb 7 by nodge_blue |
Are too many children relying on services but really they need their parents to be their rock? |
Nobody trains parents for the job we end up with. Most parents do the best they can for their children and many actively seek help, advice and support but most (all?) of us fall short to some degree.
Schools do their best to provide the mental health support children need. There are full time pastoral support roles in all schools now and what they are dealing with is horrendous. Just hearing the tip of the iceberg in a role as a teacher is enough to harm my own mental health. Some of what children suffer is harrowing beyond imagination.
I am sure there are many reasons for an increase in mental health problems in society generally and amongst children especially. Ultimately a better funded health system and a better funded education system that isn't driven solely by academic league tables would go a long way to helping. |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:45 - Feb 7 with 3080 views | mutters |
Am sure somebody on this board will come along and suggest that all they need is a slap around the head to sort themselves out |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:51 - Feb 7 with 3071 views | nodge_blue |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:32 - Feb 7 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Nobody trains parents for the job we end up with. Most parents do the best they can for their children and many actively seek help, advice and support but most (all?) of us fall short to some degree.
Schools do their best to provide the mental health support children need. There are full time pastoral support roles in all schools now and what they are dealing with is horrendous. Just hearing the tip of the iceberg in a role as a teacher is enough to harm my own mental health. Some of what children suffer is harrowing beyond imagination.
I am sure there are many reasons for an increase in mental health problems in society generally and amongst children especially. Ultimately a better funded health system and a better funded education system that isn't driven solely by academic league tables would go a long way to helping. |
But services can never support 1 in 7 children that Bankster mentions. Even if the funding was there, there isn't enough professionals to address that. | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:53 - Feb 7 with 3062 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:51 - Feb 7 by nodge_blue |
But services can never support 1 in 7 children that Bankster mentions. Even if the funding was there, there isn't enough professionals to address that. |
Which is why proper funding is only part of the solution. The fact that so much gets left making it worse, only than exacerbates the problems for others too. | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 17:57 - Feb 7 with 3045 views | Mullet |
There's as always a few threads that tie this together.
Covid and specifically lockdown has had a huge effect on development and socialisation.
Poor parenting. Lots of studies show that going back way before social media etc there was an aspect of perfectionism / living vicariously through your children. Parents brag about achievements based on their value. But not often on their values. Not often do you hear a parent say "my kid was really kind today" but it will be "my kid got this grade" etc.
Tories: Massive cuts to services and corruption have ruined the infrastructure of this country. People are going to Turkey for cosmetic surgery and the amount of deaths from that are spiralling - some are for things like weightloss surgery which are considered luxuries because there's no longer the units to do them.
Social media: Mental health has become something portrayed as glamourous or desirable by some people and this like the body image stuff is clearly ramping up what already existed in society.
The fact that medical and educational institutions are cracking under the weight of expectations and support is constantly eroded by the media and government messaging is a big part of the problem. |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 18:49 - Feb 7 with 2988 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:11 - Feb 7 by nodge_blue |
Are too many children relying on services but really they need their parents to be their rock? |
In so much as most families require both parents to work every available hour as soon as possible after birth just to get by then you might have a point. Which takes us back to the nature of the society we have allowed to take shape and what that society prioritises.
Also there are few sights I find more depressing than parents on their phones with a child tugging on their sleeve for some attention! Technology is alienating us from our Selves. | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 19:10 - Feb 7 with 2964 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Child mental health crisis. on 17:11 - Feb 7 by nodge_blue |
Are too many children relying on services but really they need their parents to be their rock? |
Although a lot of children's mental health issues came to the fore during lockdown, when there was a lack of services and kids actually spent more time with their children.
I think it highlighted that teachers have gone way beyond their remit as educators and have taken on the unpaid responsibility of being teacher, parent and social worker for so many children. |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 19:27 - Feb 7 with 2908 views | nodge_blue |
| Child mental health crisis. on 18:49 - Feb 7 by BanksterDebtSlave |
In so much as most families require both parents to work every available hour as soon as possible after birth just to get by then you might have a point. Which takes us back to the nature of the society we have allowed to take shape and what that society prioritises.
Also there are few sights I find more depressing than parents on their phones with a child tugging on their sleeve for some attention! Technology is alienating us from our Selves. |
There is something fundamentally right in what you say. Im not advocating a parent should have to stay at home, but not so many years ago one did and pretty much every level of society could afford that. So yes something is not right that both parents have to work in order to survive.
My partner is a teacher assistant for the very earliest year and she says its quite noticeable that a lot of basic parenting isn't happening and children are often coming in with limited language and less ability than would have been the case.
It's very difficult to square this circle. | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 19:38 - Feb 7 with 2870 views | NthQldITFC |
| Child mental health crisis. on 18:49 - Feb 7 by BanksterDebtSlave |
In so much as most families require both parents to work every available hour as soon as possible after birth just to get by then you might have a point. Which takes us back to the nature of the society we have allowed to take shape and what that society prioritises.
Also there are few sights I find more depressing than parents on their phones with a child tugging on their sleeve for some attention! Technology is alienating us from our Selves. |
Universal Basic Income would probably be a part of the solution, and requires a grown-up political sea-change, but we also have to uncouple ourselves on an individual level from the rampant bling-driven consumerism right now for three very good reasons:
1. Environment
2. Personal economics
3. Mental Health | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 20:12 - Feb 7 with 2825 views | J2BLUE |
| Child mental health crisis. on 10:07 - Feb 7 by RobTheMonk |
It's no surprise when they're constantly bombarded with 'perfect life' social media posts and reality TV shows like Love Island. |
The rise of the 'influencer' is a huge issue. As you say, they present the very best edited and choreographed version of their 'life'. |  |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 20:29 - Feb 7 with 2805 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Child mental health crisis. on 19:38 - Feb 7 by NthQldITFC |
Universal Basic Income would probably be a part of the solution, and requires a grown-up political sea-change, but we also have to uncouple ourselves on an individual level from the rampant bling-driven consumerism right now for three very good reasons:
1. Environment
2. Personal economics
3. Mental Health |
Purely by chance I have stumbled upon this film documenting some horse drawn travellers in 1995 and thought you might enjoy it.
I travelled with some similar folk in the late 1980's and my overwhelming memories are of laughter and positivity.
https://m.imdb.com/video/vi1297062425/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1 [Post edited 7 Feb 2024 20:32]
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| Child mental health crisis. on 21:45 - Feb 7 with 2705 views | NthQldITFC |
| Child mental health crisis. on 20:29 - Feb 7 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Purely by chance I have stumbled upon this film documenting some horse drawn travellers in 1995 and thought you might enjoy it.
I travelled with some similar folk in the late 1980's and my overwhelming memories are of laughter and positivity.
https://m.imdb.com/video/vi1297062425/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1 [Post edited 7 Feb 2024 20:32]
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A touch 'blousy' for my tastes, but definitely an improvement on the the 21st century! | |
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| Child mental health crisis. on 21:47 - Feb 7 with 2687 views | DJR |
| Child mental health crisis. on 20:29 - Feb 7 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Purely by chance I have stumbled upon this film documenting some horse drawn travellers in 1995 and thought you might enjoy it.
I travelled with some similar folk in the late 1980's and my overwhelming memories are of laughter and positivity.
https://m.imdb.com/video/vi1297062425/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1 [Post edited 7 Feb 2024 20:32]
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That's rather soothing. | | | |
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