Online Reporter
YESTERDAY we carried a story of a 14-year-old Budiriro school girl who was found hanging in the bathroom at home on Friday morning after failing to come to terms with news that her school boyfriend had been seen kissing another girl at the school.
This is what the deceased wrote in her diary, which was discovered on the day of her death.
Based on her diary notes, the Form One student had unresolved issues which triggered mental health complications.
Apart from the most prominent issue of a cheating boyfriend, the diary suggested that she had problems with her family’s lack of financial resources.
She did not like the fact that they were considered poor and possibly suffered humiliation at school.
On two occasions during that she approached her father over US$30, which needed for use at school and he was not in a position to provide.
Amid the lack of support, she committed suicide.
What is clear is that mental health issues in children, particularly those related to feelings of inferiority, bullying, and complex love relationships, are increasingly coming to the forefront of societal concerns.
The people best placed to fix these challenges include parents, relatives, friends, neighbours and schools.
It starts with parents or family cultivating open dialogue and emotional security as they play an important role in shaping children’s self-esteem and emotional health.
It is important that parents, in particular, create an environment where children are comfortable sharing their problems and also making them feel safe to express their thoughts and feelings on any matter.
It is agreed that open dialogue about emotions can pre-empt issues related to bullying at school, allowing parents to address concerns before they escalate.
It is also agreed that encouraging children to pursue their interests and talents can boost confidence, making them less vulnerable to negative peer influences and bullying behaviours.
Outside of families, neighbours are also key in helping on mental health issues affecting children as they can create a strong sense of community.
This is helpful for children facing mental health challenges. Neighbours play an important role in that they tend to see more about children from “next door” than the actual parents and, thus, they can easily detect any signs of bullying or emotional distress.
Schools are pivotal in addressing mental health issues among children. Calls are often made for schools to implement anti-bullying programs that not only educate students about the impact of bullying but also encourage empathy and kindness.
Also, schools can provide training for teachers to identify signs of mental health struggles and offer guidance on how to approach these issues sensitively.
It is clear that if parents, neighbours, and schools can help fix the problem by creating support that fosters resilience in children facing mental health challenges. This will ensure that there is a proactive and compassionate approach that makes sure that children not only survive but thrive.
