Social/Kiddies
Why Mental Disorder In Adolescents Is On The Increase
The inability of the brain to prune itself of unnecessary connections may be the cause of the wide range of mental health disorders during adolescence.
This was one of the findings from an international collaboration of researchers in the United Kingdom, China and Germany and published in Science Daily in April, 2023.
According to the researchers, the findings may further help explain why people are often affected by more than one mental health disorder and this may in future help to identify those in greatest risk.
The research noted that one in seven adolescents (aged 10- 19 years old) worldwide experiences mental health disorders, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
It added that depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders such as Attention Defieit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are among the leading causes of illness and disability in young people and adolescents and they will commonly have more than one mental health disorder.
It also noted that, many mental heath problems emerge during adolescence with depression and anxiety as “internalising’ symptoms including low mood and worrying, while ADHD manifests as “externalising” symptoms.
The lead researcher from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, Professor Barbara Sahakian noted that, young people often experience multiple mental health disorders beginning in adolescence and continuing into adult life.
She further stated that, there’s a common brain mechanism that could explain the onset of these mental health disorders during the critical time of brain development.
Here in Rivers State, Nigeria, the situation is not different. According to Nkpobu, Kennedy and Alex-Hart, Balafama of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH), Nigeria, in their work, “Pattern of Depression Illness among School Age Children Presenting at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital”, published in Open Journal of Depression last year, noted that, depression is more commonly in adolescents and is the fourth leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents aged 10- 19 years.
In their study of children 10-19 years, seen at UPTH which included 1,096 children with various childhood mental illnesses within the period under review, “out of 238 patients (21.7 percent) aged 10-19 years, treated for depression within the period under review, 129 (54.20 percent) were males and 109(45.80 percent) were females with male to female ratio of 1.18.1.The 15-19 years age group had a higher prevalence of depression 195(81.93 percent) compared to 109(45.80 percent) of those aged between 10-14 years. 136(57.14 percent) patients had severe depression while 49(36.03 percent) had psychotic depression”.
They found out that severe depression was the commonest form of depression among adolescents seen in UPTH, therefore, preventive measures should be instituted in primary and secondary schools in Rivers State to reduce its prevalence.
Furthermore, in a study published recently on Nature Medicine, the researchers noted that they identified a characteristic pattern of brain activity among adolescents which they termed the ‘neuropsychopathological factor’ or NP factor.
The team examined data from 1,750 adolescents aged 14 years from the IMAGEN cohort, a European research project that examined how biological, psychological and environmental factors during adolescence may influence brain development and mental health.
In particular, they examined imaging data from brain scans taken while participants took part in cognitive tasks, looking for patterns of brain connectivity and how different regions of the brain communicate with each other.
They found out that adolescents who experienced mental health problems regardless of the type of symptoms, showed similar patterns of brain activity.
These patterns, the NP factor were largely apparent in the frontal lobes,the area of the brain that is responsible for executive function.
The researchers confirmed their findings by replicating them in 1,799 participants from ABCD Study in the United States of America, a long-term study of brain development and child health.
They also found out that problems with pruning may particularly affect the frontal lobes, since these regions are the last brain areas to complete development in adolescents and young adults.
A medical doctor, Dr Tanye Jia, from the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shangai, China and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom, noted that as we grow up, our brains make more and more connections. This is a normal part of our development, adding that, “but too many connections risk making the brain inefficient. Though synaptic pruning helps to ensure that brain activity does not get drowned in ‘white noise’.
“Our research suggests that when this important pruning process is disrupted, it affects how brain regions talk to each other. As this impact is seen mostly in the frontal lobes,this then has implications for mental health “,he said.
The researcher noted that the discovery of the NP factor could help identify those young people at greatest risk of compounding mental health problems.
Also, another medical doctor from Fundan University in Shangai, China and the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, Professor Jiafeng Feng, noted too that, “we know that many mental health disorders begin in adolescence and that individuals who develop one disorder are at increased risk of developing other disorders too. By examined brain activity and looking for the NP factor, we might be able to detect those at greatest risk sooner, offering us more opportunity to intervene and reduce this risk”, he stated.
Researchers have recently learned that the brain is more “plastic” and moldable as previously thought.
Synaptic pruning is the body’s way of maintaining more efficient brain function.
The number of synapses in a human’s brain reaches its peak at about five years.As the brain develops and becomemore mature, connections between neurons do not form quickly. After a period of rapid development during the first five years, synapses begin to be removed and this process is known as pruning. If pruning does not happen correctly, there can be a lot of long term consequences in terms of brain wiring and behavioural problems.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
Girl-child education is a way by which a girl- child is being exposed through formal education for proper education.
It is a process whereby a girl-child is being exposed to some certain things according to “teachmit@wp”.
Girl-child education refers to the aspect of education that ends at developing the skills and knowledge of girls and women no matter their backgrounds.
Some parents think that educating a girl- child is wasting of their resources. No. When a female child is educated, it gives her that respect even the husband cannot treat her anyhow because he will know her worth.
The importance of educating the girl- child cannot be overemphasised. It helps to empower the country and makes them have a better life. Once they are educated, they realise the importance of exhibiting good hygiene habits.
It may interest you to know that when a girl-child is educated, she has a sense of belonging in the society. In Nigeria nowadays, they have the potential of becoming governors, chairmen of local government areas, among others.
The tendency of taking cognisance of the importance of reduction in child bearing is high. When a woman is educated, the level in which she will give birth will reduce considering the dangers inherent.
Firstly, she will calculate herself and know when to conceive, although with the consent of her husband and the numbers of children she wants.
A girl who is educated will know how to educate her children properly. She will be of good benefits to the family.
Truly, a girl who is not properly educated will suffer lack of knowledge, fall into early marriage which will lead into early pregnancy. Some of these can cause domestic violence.
Women need education because without proper knowledge, a woman cannot run her home properly. A woman that is educated leads her home aright.
Some men use and take advantage of uneducated women by rendering all kinds of abuses on them, some rape their wives in course of making love and others insults their wives in public all because there is no education. In life, males and females should be educated without discrimination.
Furthermore, educating a girl-child is like investing in a big business that one will not run into a loss.
According to Dr Shaifali, girls’ education is like sowing the seed which gives rise to a revitalised, cheerful and full-grown family plants.
She also said educated women have the capacity to bring socio- economic changes.
Growing up from the family of three, my father told me that he was not ready to train a female child and when I asked why, he said: ” because when you will grow and become great, then, a man will come from nowhere and marry you and all my money will be wasted. When you marry, your name will be changed that means all your riches and wealth will become your husband’s own because you people are one”.
Frankly, I was very bitter with myself and I started questioning God that why was I not created as man, but I took it upon myself that weather the devil likes it or not, I will prove my father wrong by going to school and I will show the difference.
As parents when training children we should not think less of any child because every child is important and have value.
Every child is a blessing from God. This is a clarion call to all men of our present society to accord their wives the respect they deserve. A man can develop his wife after marriage.
Education plays an important role in the life of a girl-child. Let every girl-child be educated. The government should provide the society with basic amenities such as good schools that are well-equipped.
Parents from time to time should be re-oriented in this regard taking cognisance of the importance of developing the girl-child. None should be misled by saying that the girl-child need not attend formal education.
Since some parents do not have the wherewithal to sponsor their children, governments at all levels should introduce free education to give room for equal opportunity. Bursary payment should be re-introduced in all higher educational institutions.
Education is the bedrock of any society therefore women education cannot end in the kitchen.
Princess Npapa
Princess Npapa is a student of Pan Africa Institute of Management and Technology.
A woman is a dynamic multifaceted individual who embodies resilience, courage and determination.
She is a game changer and a force to be reckon with, a confidant empowered, supportive, adaptable and inspirational.
Many had asked why women are being celebrated even as recorded in calendar so frequently unlike men and I said, a woman being multifaceted and embodies resilience and determination is worth being celebrated unlike in the 80s when women were meant to understand that their place was in the kitchen of their husbands’ houses.
What an amazing level of development where women can choose a career and work on themselves and know that there is more to life than being in the kitchen and ending up in a man’s house with nothing to show for it.
Women are the strongest versions of the gender of humans in the world even in their silence, women hold a depth of emotions, questions and unspoken thoughts. Their smiles often conceal their true feelings, masking their fears, doubts and desires.
Despite these challenges, women continue to rise above, shattering glass ceilings and pushing boundaries.
Today innovative, women are enterprenuers, leaders, and change agents. Inspiring women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Adichie and many others have paved the way for future generation, their achievements serve as testaments to women’s strength, resilience and capabilities.
The calendar tell us how unique the woman is and her significance in the home and society at large. As a woman, she holds power and I celebrate every woman out there in the world irrespective of how you may have fallen, you shall rise above the challenges, support one another and celebrate collective strength and resilience.
Woman as an icon of strength is not just about individual achievements but creating supportive networks, uplifting others and celebrating collective success, defying expectations and redefining what it means to be a strong woman.
The strength and bravery of women are worthy of celebration by the entire world as none is unique as the epitome of nation builders, character molders and pacesetters not just in their family but to the society at large.
A woman is a selfless mother, lover and care giver to her family, a daughter who supports her parents, as a sister’s unshakeable bond with her siblings and a friends unconditional empathy and understanding.
These acts of kindness and love are not most times talked about but hold families and communities together and bonding strong women are powerful beings who have impacted the society, shaping the foundation of the world from the 80s to date, I personally want to celebrate all the icons of strength who had fought and are still fighting , that our voices as women are heard even unto the ends of time.
I celebrate you all amazing women for standing strong and paving ways for the future generation for equality, justice and human rights. To the rising child, teenager and adults who happen to be a ‘woman’, I celebrate our collective efforts, our strength in helping one another to rise, irrespective of our differences in our backgrounds.
We are super humans, unique beings, no wonder the Bible acknowledges the importance of our strength. Therefore, let’s celebrate every woman out there.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha, is a student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.
Eunice Choko-Kayode