Blog

Written by: Qanita Fatima

Why Mental Health Matters in Childhood & Adolescence?

Mental health isn’t just the absence of problems — it’s what helps children

✨ Learn confidently

✨ Connect with others

✨ Express their feelings

✨ Recover from setbacks.

It develops over time, shaped by everything around them — from their home and school to the relationships and experiences they have every day.

Strong mental health = stronger futures

When children develop healthy coping skills and emotional stability early on, they’re better equipped for lifelong success — academically, socially, and personally

          Role of Mental Health in Early Childhood:

        🌱 The first 1,000 days are critical

Early childhood (conception to age 2–3) is a prime window for brain growth, emotional wellbeing, and cognitive development (Schwarzenberg et al., 2018).

       👩‍👩‍👦 Relationships shape the brain

Nurturing bonds with caregivers, family, and peers build the foundation for resilience, self-regulation, and social skills.

       🏡 Environment matters — for better or worse

Stable, safe homes, green play spaces, and healthy nutrition foster thriving. But toxic stress, pollution, or neglect can leave lasting scars.

       🧠 Early experiences = lifelong impact

Positive stimulation builds strong mental health architecture, while adverse experiences raise risks for challenges later in life.

Mental Health in Middle Childhood (Age 6-12)

As children enter middle childhood, their mental health becomes a decisive factor in shaping their academic progress, social development, and emotional maturity.

Academic Performance:  Mental health directly affects concentration, learning capacity, and classroom engagement. Early emotional or behavioural challenges are linked to lower academic achievement, whereas appropriate support enhances focus and educational success.

Social Relationships:  Psychological wellbeing and peer interactions reinforce one another. Children with stable emotional health are better equipped to form friendships, while positive peer support can protect against later mental health difficulties.

Emotional Regulation: Skills such as impulse control and emotional expression are still developing. Caregivers and educators play an essential role in modelling healthy coping strategies (Willner et al., 2016).

Mental Health in Adolescence 

Adolescence (13–18) is a time of intense physical, emotional, and social change. As teenagers seek independence, form identity, and navigate academic and social pressures, mental health becomes a defining factor in their development and future wellbeing.

During Adolescence there is: 

Heightened Risk of Mental Health Conditions:                 

Anxiety and depression are common during this stage, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. Many adult mental health disorders first emerge during these years — making early support critical.

Peer Relationships as Critical Protective or Risk Factors

Friendships provide belonging and emotional support. Positive connections strengthen resilience, while social exclusion, bullying, or online pressure significantly increase psychological distress (Di Giacomo et al., 2018).

Impact on Education and Behaviour

Poor mental health can lead to school avoidance, disengagement, and academic decline. It is also linked to greater risk-taking behaviours such as substance use or aggression.

Long-Term Outcomes:

A strong foundation of mental health during middle childhood increases the likelihood of positive adjustment in adolescence and fosters resilience into adulthood.

Therefore:

Promoting mental health from infancy through adolescence is about more than just averting issues; it's about maximising potential. Children and young people learn more effectively, form closer bonds with others, and develop into resilient, self-assured individuals when they feel protected, supported, and emotionally mature.

Investing in mental health today is about building for the future - not just providing care.

Insights from: Suppiej, A., Longo, I., & Pettoello-Mantovani, M. (2025). The pivotal role of Mental health in child and adolescent development. Global Pediatrics, 100277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gpeds.2025.100277

Di Giacomo, E., Krausz, M., Colmegna, F., Aspesi, F., & Clerici, M. (2018). Estimating the risk of attempted suicide among sexual minority youths. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(12), 1145. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.2731

Schwarzenberg, S. J., Georgieff, M. K., Daniels, S., Corkins, M., Golden, N. H., Kim, J. H., Lindsey, C. W., & Magge, S. N. (2018). Advocacy for improving nutrition in the first 1000 days to support childhood development and adult health. PEDIATRICS, 141(2). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-3716

Willner, C. J., Gatzke-Kopp, L. M., & Bray, B. C. (2016). The dynamics of internalizing and externalizing comorbidity across the early school years. Development and Psychopathology, 28(4pt1), 1033–1052. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579416000687