------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Do not overburden your children,know their potential -------------------------------------------------------------------- Are the pressures of modern living taking a toll on the mental health of the Goan child? Figures obtained from the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Bambolim, seem to agree, but experts at IPHB, while agreeing to the rise in stress on children, also attribute the rise in registered cases at the IPHB to greater awareness among people who approach the IPHB more often now.
In 1996, there were 265 cases of children registered at the IPHB's Child Guidance Clinic, which treats children upto the age of twelve. In 2000, the number rose to 390 and in 2003, it had shot up to 582.
Dr John Fernandes, Professor at IPHB, says that of the total number of children admitted for mental disorders, almost 40 per cent constitute cases of mental retardation. Here the child is born of below average (70) intelligence quotient (IQ) with some impairment in adaptive functioning.
Dr Fernandes said that while children with autistic spectrum disorder, attention-deficit syndrome and a range of such disorders also come to the IPHB, almost 25 per cent of the children are brought in for behavioural problems. In other words, these are children who were born perfectly normal, but developed behaviour problems later on.
Dr Yvonne D'Silva, Associate Professor at the IPHB and in-charge of its Child Guidance Clinic, said behavioural problems in children arise mostly from parental attitudes; parental rejection, not meeting children's emotional needs, physical punishment, over-protection (especially shown by working mothers to overcome the guilt of not spending enough time with children) and so on.
Dr Fernandes supports this contention with a real-life story of an over-sensitive young man whose life went tragically off the rails due to intense parental pressure. Vinay Vaidya (name changed) was born perfectly normal. Much against his wishes and aptitude, Vinay was forced to take up medicine by his father, himself a medical doctor. Constantly under pressure, a tormented Vinay struggled till the final year of MBBS, then came unhinged in the mind. He was reported to IPHB with psychotic symptoms; hearing voices, irritable, excited, not interested in any work. He is under treatment for the last three years now, an only son rendered non-productive at 25.
"Instead of concentrating on all-round development, parents sometimes put too much stress on academics," said Dr Fernandes. "Besides praising children to re-inforce good behaviour, parents should give them quality time. But discipline is important; parents need to be polite but firm".
Understanding the child's personality is very important. Dr Fernandes tells the story of another young man, whose Mumbai-bred mother wanted him to be like his extrovert younger sister. Subjected to years of nagging, the boy had withdrawn into a shell, not mixing in class, poor in studies and often disobedient to the mother. Upon analysis, he was found to have a borderline IQ and the personality of his quiet father. The mother accepted that and supported the boy in his almost 10-year long treatment. Today, the boy is doing quite well in life, said Dr Fernandes.
Dr Yvonne D'Silva said there should be training for prospective parents to learn parenting skills. Among the children she has treated include 13-year old street-children who sniff white ink. They told her they did it "to feel good and not to feel hungry". But Dr D'Silva has also treated similarly-aged Goan children who sniff motorcycle petrol "to feel light-headed and nice".
Noting that problems among adolescents are on the rise, Dr Fernandes said that IPHB is planning of starting a School Mental Health Extension programme to arrest early on disorders of the mind from crippling the children of Goa. --------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 25/1/04 page 1 ---------------------------------------------
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