The mental health and instability of children has always been a taboo subject in Indian society, spoken of in hushed whispers, if at all. The Covid pandemic which shut down schools for 82 weeks — the most prolonged lockdown of education institutions of any major nation worldwide — has changed this tradition. As children struggled to cope with isolation, parental job losses, deaths of family members, and learning from home, they started displaying symptoms of stress and anxiety in large numbers. Suddenly, parents and educators are reporting that children, back in school after the pandemic, are displaying irritability, anxiety, fear, depression, digital addiction and poor socialisation skills. The hitherto neglected subject of children’s mental health has now become a topic of drawing room conversation supplemented by alarming stories in the media — including the ubiquitous social media. Moreover, respected international organisations including Unicef and WHO are also reporting a global child mental health crisis. For instance, according to Unicef, the pandemic has adversely affected the social and emotional well-being of children on an unprecedented scale, the worst in its 75-year history.

The breakdown of traditional family structures which has deprived nuclear family children of the support of caring elders compounded by the emergence of the Internet and social media has also made it difficult for children to cope with the burden of peer, parental and social pressure to excel in academics, careers and personal relationships. A 2019 survey of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, reports that 30 percent of Indian children aged 13-17 years are severely stressed.

Against the backdrop of a ballooning child mental health crisis, in our cover story this month we beam a spotlight on natural, holistic therapies which can boost children’s social and mental well-being. A small but growing minority of parents are choosing to opt for natural therapies to address anxiety, depression and related disorders and to alleviate children’s stress. Natural therapies include art, animal-assisted, journal, nature and talk curatives. Child health experts and counselors argue that these therapies are easily accessible options for reducing stress and improving the emotional resilience and self-esteem of children.

Also check out our Special Essay on parenting an angry child and Middle Years story highlighting the adverse impact of dysfunctional families upon children and coping mechanisms. Don’t miss out also the Ask Your Counselor and Ask the Doctor columns where experts answer questions on a wide range of physical and mental health issues.