The Voice of Young Minds

     

     The Philippines celebrates National Children's Month every November. Giving Filipino children access to a healthy environment, a quality education, and healthcare is the goal of this month-long celebration. The Council for the Welfare of Children will seek to address the mental health and well-being of children as the council marks the 30th National Children’s Month, highlighting the theme “Kalusugan, Kaisipan at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan."

     The national hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal, famously declared that young are the country's future and that raising children is essential to improving the next generation. This holiday also comes from an empathetic place. The majority of families in this third-world nation struggle financially, and the children are the ones who suffer the most. In democratic societies, children and young people have the right to be heard and not to feel afraid to express themselves. 

     Without a doubt, every child has rights of their own, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or religion. All children have the right to a high standard of life, as well as the rights to family, play, health, and education. hey also have the right to be protected from abuse and violence. The formative years of life—childhood and adolescence—are crucial for mental health. The environment in which children are raised has an impact on their well-being and development. Neglecting a child's mental health and psychosocial development can have long-term effects that last into adulthood and may lessen their chances of leading fulfilling lives. 

     The Covid-19 epidemic had a large impact. The teens and children, however, are the pandemic's silent victims because there hasn't been any discussion of how it has affected them. The National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline of the Department of Health (DOH) reports that 9.7% of all calls were about suicide, and many of them were made by minors who had been bullied, depressed, anxious, or stressed out by family problems, problems in school, or other factors. 

     A child's nutrition has been damaged as a result of the pandemic's ongoing disruptions, which may also have an effect on their mental health. A growing child's nutritional requirements must be met, especially when their mental health is taken into consideration. To guarantee that all children have a bright future filled with health and prosperity, it is important to provide them with appropriate and good nutrition as well as support for their mental health and general well-being. And this is why we celebrate the National Children's Month. 

Reference/s: 

Celebrating National Children’s Month. (2022, October 31). Maharlika TV. https://maharlika.tv/2022/10/31/celebrating-national-childrens-month/

Improving the mental and brain health of children and adolescents. (2022b, March 2). https://www.who.int/activities/improving-the-mental-and-brain-health-of-children-and-adolescents

National Children’s Month to focus on children’s mental health issues. https://pia.gov.ph/news/2022/11/02/national-childrens-month-to-focus-on-childrens-mental-health-issues

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1773184/bacolod/lifestyle/octaviano-celebrating-the-filipino-children