Youth suicides are frequent, and it is urgent to pay attention to children's mental health

Science Fiction Network, February 3 (Xu Mingyang) According to a report by People's Daily, on October 14, 2022, Hu Mouyu, a high school student at Zhiyuan Middle School in Qianshan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, went missing. On January 28, 2023, Hu Mouyu's body was found. After multiple investigations and inspections, it was determined that Hu Mouyu had committed suicide. In the recorder he left behind, there were two audio clips that clearly expressed his desire to commit suicide.

Depression is a very common mental illness nowadays and a typical case of depressive disorder. Genetic, neuroendocrine, environmental, psychological and other factors may all be the cause of depression.

The 2022 National Depression Blue Book released last year showed that the lifetime prevalence of depressive disorders among adults in my country is 6.8%, of which depression accounts for 3.4%. Currently, there are 95 million people suffering from depression in my country, and about 280,000 people commit suicide each year, of which 40% suffer from depression. From the perspective of occupation, the proportion of people suffering from depression in the Internet and education industries is higher.

The 2022 National Depression Blue Book also shows that people under the age of 18 account for 30% of the total number of people with depression, and 50% of people with depression are students. It can be seen that adolescents suffering from depression are not unique. Interpersonal relationships and family relationships are the main causes of depression in adolescents. In addition, study pressure, lack of sleep, etc. may also lead to depression.

Patients with depression usually experience anxiety, low mood, slow thinking, sleep disorders, decreased willpower and other symptoms. In severe cases, they may engage in self-harm or even suicide. Adolescent depression is not just a complaint without illness as many people say. Family members are often more likely to notice abnormalities in their children than others. If you find that your child has the following conditions, do not ignore them.

If you find that your child often suffers from insomnia or loss of appetite, you can communicate with your child in a timely manner and ask about his or her recent condition.

A child's sudden mood instability may also be a sign of depression. Anxiety, sensitivity, and low mood are common emotions among people with depression.

People with depression may behave differently than usual, such as crying late at night, suddenly starting to drink, having major changes in their appearance, or participating in fewer activities.

If a child directly expresses thoughts such as feeling that life is meaningless and boring, parents should promptly enlighten the child and not criticize the child directly, so as not to make the child more closed in.

If the child is unwilling to express his or her ideas to the parents, the parents can contact the child's teachers and classmates to understand the child's condition.

Once you find that your child has a tendency to depression, you can stay with your child, listen to his or her thoughts patiently, and give him or her support and help. If your child's normal life has been affected, or even has thoughts or behaviors of self-harm or suicide, you should seek help from a professional psychologist in time.