On the occasion of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the American Space at the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) hosted a group of elementary students at “Smart School” for a presentation on the subject, delivered by Psychiatrist at the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Dr. Hussein Adnan.
Director of AUIB’s American Space, Dr. Rick Roberts, welcomed the visiting students to American Space, “a place that promotes mutual understanding between Iraqis and Americans,” and introduced Dr. Adnan to the audience.
“Psychological health is a fundamental part of general health,” and the former should be periodically assessed in children by checking if they have “reached developmental and emotional milestones” and learned social skills, such as in making friends and engaging in group activities, explained Dr. Adnan, highlighting that mentally healthy children are more likely to lead generally healthy lives as adults, while failing to address children’s mental health issues will likely lead to the persistence and exacerbation of these problems.
Dr. Adnan elaborated on symptoms of possible mental health disorders among children, including unhealthy changes in behaviour, depression and mood swings, fear and anxiety, eating disorders, inability to make friends, and lack of emotional expression. Challenges in learning and engaging in various activities, and specifically the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a “big problem” that is pervasive in the schools of Iraq, said Dr. Adnan, stressing the high importance of early diagnosis to treatment, and thus the need for gauging children’s mental development and formulating strategies that support proper parenting.