更多家長替壓力大的孩子尋求協助
More parents than ever are turning to professionals to support their children's mental health, a new survey suggests.
An online therapy company questioned almost 1,400 parents in the United States. Nearly 82% said they had looked for professional help for their child at some point, up from 62% the year before. Many included a school counsellor or therapist in their child's support network.
When asked what was causing their children stress, parents most often mentioned problems with friends and classmates. Bullying or being left out came next, followed by heavy schoolwork and pressure to do well. All three were reported more often than in the previous year. Looking further ahead, many parents were also worried about their children getting into university.
The survey also asked what had the most positive effect on children's wellbeing. The answer was surprisingly simple: free, unstructured time, especially spending time with friends and being outdoors.
Experts say parents should look out for changes in their child's mood or behaviour that last for more than a few days, rather than worrying about a single bad day. Teachers and coaches can also notice things that parents miss. And if a child ever talks about feeling hopeless or wanting to hurt themselves, parents should seek professional help immediately.
一項新調查顯示，替孩子的心理健康尋求專業協助的家長，比以往任何時候都多。
一家線上心理諮商公司訪問了美國將近 1,400 位家長。將近 82% 的家長說，他們曾經替孩子找過專業協助，前一年這個比例是 62%。很多家長都把學校的輔導老師或心理治療師納入孩子的支持網絡。
被問到孩子的壓力從哪裡來時，家長最常提到的是和朋友、同學相處的問題，其次是被霸凌或被排擠，接著是繁重的課業和要考好的壓力。這三項被提到的次數都比前一年多。再往後看，很多家長也擔心孩子以後能不能上大學。
調查也問到什麼對孩子的身心最有幫助。答案出乎意料地簡單：自由、沒被安排的時間，特別是和朋友在一起、到戶外玩。
專家建議，家長要留意孩子在情緒或行為上持續好幾天的變化，不必為某一天心情不好就太擔心。老師和教練也可能注意到家長沒發現的事。如果孩子說過覺得沒有希望，或想傷害自己，家長應該立刻尋求專業協助。