Start Strong: The Role of Family Bonds and Responsive Relationships in Long-Term Mental Health
Amidst the Ambani wedding extravaganza that flooded social media, there were a few voices trying to keep up the integrity of news, and steer people’s attention to other concerning news and issues. One report appeared in the “news we ignored past week” particularly was disconcerting and made me ponder and reflect —a painful reminder of a crisis we are all too aware of: the alarming rise in our nation's suicide rates.
According to this latest news report published in NDTV, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a staggering 1.71 lakh lives were lost to suicide in 2022, marking a record high suicide rate of 12.4 per 1,00,000 people in India. These numbers, however, belie the true extent of the crisis, obscured by inadequate registration systems, stigma, and other systemic issues. Shockingly, 41% of these tragic deaths involve young individuals under the age of 30. For young women, suicide is now the leading cause of mortality in India, claiming a life every eight minutes—an incalculable loss to families, society, our economy, and the future of our nation.
Studies also indicate that about 50 to 90 per cent of individuals who die by suicide suffer from mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-sees-highest-suicides-in-the-world-12-4-per-1-00-000-national-data-6082407 )
This crisis underscores the urgent need for a more aggressive approach to mental health. Mental health modules and sensitization must be integrated in all our initiatives. Focus on building nurturing communities that support each other. ?It's a call to action that has reinforced my conviction in the critical importance of nurturing strong family foundations and ensuring a supportive environment right from the start. Raising children who are resilient through focussed responsive caregiving and self-care has never been more critical. This is needed not just for meeting our educational outcomes but also for laying the groundwork for mental and emotional wellbeing and health and building resilience.
Mental health deterioration
More than 50 per cent of the youth (18-24 years old) in India have poor mental health, according to a report by Sapien Labs Centre for the Human Brain and Mind.?The burden associated with common mental disorders (depressive and anxiety disorders) rises in childhood and peaks in adolescence and early to middle age (10–29 years)1
Key factors affecting poor mental health are the way we see ourselves within our societies and cultures, the quality of our relationships, familial responsibilities, how we are raised and the ecosystem that surrounds us – all of which has a direct impact on our ability to cope with life’s stressors and challenges. Having trusting relationships, or at least one such relationship, can be that significant saving factor from a total breakdown of our coping mechanism. The first relationship that the child forms can be the foundation of mental and emotional stability that is likely to hold them in good stead when they grow up and face the world.
The need to start early cannot be overstated
When a mother, father or grandparent maintains a responsive, loving relationship with the child, when they are healthy themselves, their interactions with the child are reflective of their well-being and influence the child’s relationship and social skills. Dr Jack Shonkoff, the Director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University argues for a ‘new role for biology’ in early year’s provision and policy in focussing interventions and support for parents’ needs for emotional and practical support as a way in to promoting secure attachment and early resilience in children.2 ?This is important because we have often observed?anxiety and stress in caregivers and their need for support in helping them understand how they can fulfil ?parental responsibilities with all their limitations.
Responsive caregiving – a protective factor.
The evidence on the powerful role of loving nurture in the emotional, social and cognitive development of children is powerful. Parenting is therefore more important than we could ever have imagined. It is vital that children and their parents are supported during this time to promote attachment.3 This can be done through targeted interventions supporting parents who have aspirations for their children but lack the language and strategies to support their children
Longitudinal studies have reported that a child’s ability to form and maintain healthy relationships throughout life may be significantly impaired by having an insecure attachment to a primary caregiver.4
New science of epigenetics is discovering more and more how our genes and our brains are affected by the lives we lead.These vital practical and loving parenting skills are the building blocks of babies’ care and well-being.5 Without a good initial bond, children are less likely to grow up to become happy, independent and resilient adults. If positive experiences do not happen, the pathways needed for normal human experiences may be lost. This is often referred to as the ‘use it or lose it’ principle.6
Designing Responsive Caregiving Interventions.
An important factor in designing responsive caregiving interventions is not just to help caregivers interact with their children meaningfully, to help them become school ready but also ensure that these ?interventions rest on the strong foundation of fostering emotional bonding and trust. Focus on playfulness but also inclusion of strategies for ‘parental self-care’ especially in new moms/caregivers, to help them understand the long term impact of having trusting, affectionate relationships.
?
?
?
?
?
1 Chadda R.K. Youth & mental health: Challenges ahead.?Indian J. Med. Res.?2018;148:359.?[PMC free article ]?[PubMed ]?[Google Scholar ]
领英推荐
2 Shonkoff JP. Building a New Biodevelopmental Framework to Guide the Future of Early Childhood Policy.?Child Development.?2010;81:357–367.?[PubMed ]?[Google Scholar ][Ref list ]
4 Perry BD. Vol. 3. Brain and mind; 2002. Childhood experience and the expression of genetic potential: what childhood neglect tells us about nature and nurture; pp. 79–100.?[Google Scholar
5 Champagne FA, Francis DD, Mar A, Meaney MJ. Variations in maternal care in the rat as a mediating influence for the effects of environment on development.?Physiol. Behav.?2003;79:359–371. doi:?10.1016/S0031-9384(03)00149-5.
6 Greenough WT, Black JE, Wallace CS. Experience and brain development.?Child Dev.?1987;58:539–559. doi:?10.2307/1130197.
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Independent Consultant - Social Impact, Governance, Rights, Equity and Equality.
4 个月Such an important issue and one not given much attention , well said and registered
Content Marketing Consultant | Creator Calm Kids
4 个月Building healthy mental habits in children as early as possible is the next frontier. Thank you for sharing this article. So many great insights.