The Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital has detected in recent months a growing increase in mental health disorders in children and adolescents aged 10 to 18, so it has warned parents on this matter.
In particular, the hospital has indicated that it has proven how revenues for suicidal ideation and by food disorders have increased, fundamentally nervous anorexia.
Experts have detailed that one of the causes of this growth is due to confinement and restrictions by the pandemic.
“He has coincided in the time that is when they begin to make decisions, to feel autonomous, projecting themselves in the future, depending on social relations for their development, etc. In addition, it tends to think about these ages that much of what happens is
Irreversible in time “, has indicated the director of the Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Gregorio Marañón Hospital, Celso Arango.
Thus, the director has insisted that this situation has meant a huge scar on this population that has been restricted its ability to decide on its future, so that a growing number of minors have felt desperate.
“They have difficulty finding meaning to their lives, verbalize death ideas, they become more insecure, sad, anxious, impulsive, self-catering or stop eating because it is the only way they feel they have control over their body,” HA
sustained.
Faced with this situation, experts have advised parents to promote communication because it is proven to protect against minor mental illnesses.
“Early detection and prevention are very important. Therefore, for the beginning of the school year, it is necessary to encourage the relationship and communication. It is key to doing family activities and that they feel supported,” he has assured the psychiatrist of the unit of
Adolescent Income from the Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health of Marañón, María Dolores Picouto.
In this sense, it has also recommended taking care hours, food and sports for their physical benefits, as well as increasing self-esteem and regular negative emotions such as anxiety or sadness.
On the other hand, experts have specified that it is important to educate children and adolescents in responsible and secure use of Internet, social networks and videogames.
In case of having a negative impact with new technologies, doctors provide mental problems associated with inadequate use of these.
“If you perceive that your children suffer changes in behavior, greater irritability, sadness, susceptibility, isolation, sleep alterations and food, among others, who are very outstanding and that ask for an appointment with its pediatrician or primary care doctor so that
, if it is appropriate, it can be derived you specialized and that the situation is not chronubs over time, “Arango has advised.
The second cause of death in infantojuvenil population is suicide, behind accidents.
“It is necessary that family members are attentive to these signs, since minors can be treated and fruit of treatment and their improvement will disappear what physicians call suicidal ideation, suicide can be prevented,” he has asserted.
As a prevention measure, the Gregorio Marañón Hospital has launched, in a pioneer manner, the figure of the nurse specialist in mental health in the pediatric emergency service, such as Julio González that every day serves patients and their families.
“When minors come to emergencies, the most important thing is to create a security space and make an integral and integrated approach from the patient and the family. We remove the stigma of mental health and start working from the minute one in an alternative program”
, He has revealed.