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Growing up good, growing up well.
- Woody Caan (3 July 2005)
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is our culture toxic to chidren?
- Akash Samtani (5 July 2005)
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Mutual learning- an advantage
- SANGAHALLI. N. SREENATH (18 July 2005)
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Woody Caan, Professor of public health APU, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, UK
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Bravo, Dr. Timimi. Egocentric, individualistic assumptions about child development [1] that are so characteristic of our Boob Tube 'culture' for child-rearing may indeed be unhealthy for their growing minds. The benefits of a strong, supportive, nurturing culture may begin from a very early age [2]. The challenge is how to help professionals, policy-makers and especially parents who are overburdened by work and personal debt, in so many nations, to create: a wider social environment ("the village") that is child-friendly and encourages growth that is both 'responsible' [1] and adventurous. 1 Timimi S. Effect of globalisation on children's mental health. BMJ 2005; 331: 37-39. 2 Caan W. Being Of Sound Mind, In The Beginning… In: Mental Health Promotion Update. National Institute for Mental Health in England, 2005: in press. Competing interests: None declared |
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Akash Samtani, freelance GP N21 2PB
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Superb article which highlights the psychologically toxic effects of our dominant western culture's excessive control exerted on little children. Marital breakdown, poor social cohesion, media domination, consumerism and material obsession, over competitiveness all compound these toxic effects in later years. Dogs, rather than children, get more positive attention from most people in the West. Travelling with children in the East is such a joy for kids and parents, warm friendly gazes all round - no pathologising of little children's playfulness or feeling extreme embarrassment if something spills, or a scream is let out; people laugh in the East and they glare here. The sequelae of the expectation of perfection at such a young age may be isolation, depression, alcoholism etc in adulthood. Learning cooperation, social cohesion and responsibility is not just good but essential in societies where government sponsored welfare/free health does not exist. The economic predictions are that when we(anyone less than 40) retire we will not have these either. Competing interests: None declared |
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SANGAHALLI. N. SREENATH, Senior SHO in Child Psychiatry Fleming Nuffield Unit, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE. NE2 3AE
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EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION ON CHILDRENS' MENTAL HEALTH A RESPONSE Globalisation has given a wide exposure to all the people belonging to different countries and cultures. The electronic media has made it still easier to have access to the latest changes, situations or developments. This has good and bad demonstration effects on children. Since the general perception is that the Western countries are superior, it is possible to a great extent that the Western values may influence the children of the Non-Western countries and these children may try to imitate the western children. However, a closer examination of the situation shows that both western and non-western countries have relative merits and demerits. While in some of the non-western countries children are subjected to barbaric treatment due to superstition and blind beliefs, these societies also provide the maximum extent of emotional, economic and psychological security to children As described in the article, Western countries (WC) have several positive and negative features. Similarly the Non-Western Countries (NWC) have their own positive and negative features affecting mental health of children. The major difference is in the child rearing practices and cultural socialisation process. Hence, the Western psychiatrist can also learn a lot from the NWC. The major differences between the two sets of countries in the child rearing practices and socialisation process are listed below. WESTERN COUNTRIES 1. Over emphasis on freedom i.e., an appeal to get rid of restrictions imposed by family or society 2. Promotion of individualism and weakening social relationships. THE EFFECT: The individualism leads to a sense of emotional insecurity and drives the child to be aggressive, anti-social, destructive, resorting to crimes, anxiety, depression, and unhappiness. This also leads to economic insecurity. NON-WESTERN COUNTRIES : 1. Over protection of children, rearing children under strict disciplines, too much of instructions, do’s and don’ts, respecting the wishes of elders even if it is at the cost of individual interest. 2. Children are brought up within a stable and nurturing extended family structures, where duty and responsibility over-ride individualism as the dominant value system. THE EFFECT: Over protection in some cases make children to develop dependency syndrome and lack of independence decision taking power. In rare cases children may get into frustration. However, the love and affection, emotional security and a sense of belonging to the family gives happiness and contentment to children. Since, most of the NWC like the South Asian countries or African countries are dominated by poor people, the economic deprivation drives children towards anti-social activities and crime. CURE: It should be borne in mind by the Western psychiatrists that the childrens' mental health problems in WC are entirely due to different set of cultural values and socialisation. However, they can learn a lot from the experiences of the NWC in rearing of children and imbibing in them social responsibilities and attachment towards family. Instead of using drugs, in large number of cases, NWC methods of treating a mentally ill child can be adopted. On the other hand the NWC psychiatrists should look into the benefits of adopting the multidisciplinary approach (western model) in the mental health assessment and care of the children. Dr. SANGAHALLI N. SREENATH Competing interests: None declared |
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