By Sama Marwan,
Introduction
Mental and psychological health are among the most important pillars of healthy human development. However, their indirect impact on children may not be immediately visible. In reality, the emotional and psychological environment in which a child is raised leaves deep marks on their personality, behavior, and how they interact with life later on. This article sheds light on how the mental and psychological well-being of parents or caregivers can influence a child’s development, with long-lasting effects that may only become apparent in adolescence or adulthood.
Mental and Psychological Health: Basic Concepts
Mental health refers to one’s ability to cope with life’s pressures, maintain emotional balance, and build healthy relationships.
Psychological health involves sound thinking, perception, decision-making, and cognitive functions like memory and concentration.
When a parent or caregiver suffers from psychological or mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, or personality disorders, children are often indirectly affected, even if no harmful behavior is directed at them.
How Are Children Affected?
1.Emotionally Unstable Environment
Children raised in tense, emotionally intense, or emotionally neglectful homes may lack a sense of psychological safety — the foundation for self-confidence and healthy social interactions.
2. Lack of a Healthy Role Model
Children learn through observation. Witnessing a parent struggle with mental breakdowns or poor decision-making can lead them to adopt similar patterns in thinking and behavior later in life.
3. Premature Responsibility
In some cases, children may feel compelled to “act like adults” to support a struggling parent, leading to unbalanced development and persistent feelings of guilt or anxiety — which can emerge more clearly in teenage years.
4. Academic and Cognitive Impact
Psychological stress at home can impair a child’s ability to concentrate and learn. An unstable environment may weaken their interest in school and hinder their intellectual growth.
Long-Term Effects
Anxiety or Depression: These may surface in adolescence due to accumulated suppressed emotions.
Social Relationship Issues: Such as mistrust, fear of abandonment, or emotional overdependence.
Defensive Behaviors: Like excessive anger or social withdrawal.
Difficulty in Forming Identity and Making Decisions
Prevention and Early Intervention
Awareness: Families and societies must recognize the importance of mental and psychological health and address issues rather than ignore them.
School Involvement: Schools can play a supportive role through counseling programs and by observing behavioral warning signs.
Family Therapy: When a parent has a disorder, involving the entire family in therapy can help reduce the emotional toll on children.
Building Coping Skills: Such as emotional expression, asking for help, and managing anger in healthy ways.
Conclusion
Mental and psychological health are not purely personal matters—they affect everyone around us, especially the most vulnerable: children. While children may forget events, they rarely forget how they felt. Taking care of parents’ and caregivers’ mental well-being is an investment in a healthier, more emotionally balanced future generation.
