Let Him Not Sink First Steps to Mental Health is a manual for
adults who work closely with children and adolescents. Unfortunately
very little is known about mental health even to the educated people
of our country. The poor illiterate masses are so busy in their
struggle to make two ends meet that mental health becomes a
neglected factor. But the truth is that mental health concerns everyone and mental ill-health doesn't look at if a person is rich or poor.
It is for these reasons that this book assumes tremendous importance.
While I knew depression, bipolar disorders and obsessive compulsive
disorders were psychological issues requiring expert intervention, I
was totally unaware that even anxiety disorders, separation anxiety
and selective mutism too form a part of the mental disorders
spectrum. This book bursts many myths. A common reason cited these
days for depression and many other mental diseases is lack of support
system. Though this is one of the causes, the book tells us that
mental disorders can be genetic as well as result of birth and
delivery related conditions.
The book tries to simplify the mental disorders. It cites as to why
early identification of mental problems is important. The book also
enumerates essential skills for dealing with children and adolescents.
Each disorder is discussed in separate chapters and in every chapter
there are boxes containing red flags highlighting the factors which
increase the risks. Self-harm among the youth is on a rise. There is
a separate chapter devoted to it as well. It was startling to know
that if there is history of self harm in the family, the probability
of the child having suicidal tendencies rises many fold.
This book by no way can replace the therapist. That is not the
intention of the book. It serves its purpose by enlisting symptoms
which may fall under the category of mental disorder. If you see them
in your children rush for help at the earliest. I welcome this book
and wish many more flood the market for mental health is as important
as physical health.
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