The specialists from the psychiatry department at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have observed that the severe mental-health disorders in the paediatric population and adolescents seem to have skyrocketed in India over the last few years. According to the experts, the number of mental-health problems in the younger generation has almost doubled in the last several decades, and the age for the first symptoms is now very broad ranging from 1 to 14 years.
Early Onset, Often Missed
AIIMS psychiatrists emphasize that half of adult mental-health disorders originate from childhood, nonetheless, early signs are mostly neglected. The symptoms of withdrawal from the social life, irritability, sleep disturbances, academic decline, sudden rage, and lack of interest in the activities are, by and large, being misinterpreted as “normal teenage behaviour,” hence the time for intervention passes unnoticed.
The Crisis Reasons
Firstly, the rapid increasing academic pressure is singly the major cause of mental-health issues in children and teens. Secondly, among the factors producing depression are the extensive use of the screen, exposure to social media, cyberbullying, absence of outdoor play, little social interaction, and the stigma that discourages many families from seeking the help of professionals.
Urgent Need for Treatment
The most prominent warning from AIIMS is that the percentage of children with mental-health issues who are provided with professional care is only between 10 and 20%. The main reasons for such a large gap are a lack of responsiveness, a shortage of specialized services, and social shame.
Call for Action
Parents, schools, and policymakers are being, by the AIIMS panel, collectively called upon to:
- Observe early behaviours changes in a kid.
- Model open mental health talks.
- Easily provide counselling services in schools.
- Establish a network of mental-health institutions offering services for children across India.
Summary
AIIMS’s intervention is clear as day: the youth mental-health load in India is rapidly growing, and early intervention plays a crucial role. Securing emotional safety for children today is a condition for having a healthy and more resilient generation tomorrow.