Swazi Observer

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CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH

By Taiwan ICDF | 2025-04-01

How to Support Child’s Mental Health
- Create a safe and supportive environment.
- Avoid comparison among children.
- Always be available.
- Help them build their confidence and self-esteem.
- Have a way to address a situation and take note of your words.
- Have a plan for addressing situations and be mindful of your words.
- Practice open communication.
- Talk about their feelings and concerns.
- Listen to the child.
- Practice patience.

Understanding Psychological Stress
Symptoms
- Headache.
- Muscle pains.
- Disturbed sleeping patterns.
- Altered appetite for food.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Feeling irritable or emotional.
- Physical symptoms (e.g., stomach ulcers, skin problems, etc.).

Stress Management
- Acknowledge the situation you are dealing with.
- Learn to cope with stress.
- Do not put pressure on yourself.
- Try to get enough sleep.
- Engage in activities that you love, such as playing sports or listening to music.
- Eat a healthy diet.

Uncontrolled Stress Impacts
- Depression.
- Sickness (e.g., severe ulcers).
- Acne.
- Mental health issues.
- High blood pressure.
- Suicidal thoughts.
- Cardiovascular problems

Cancer in Children
Warning Signs in Babies
- High body temperature lasting for two weeks or more
- Changes in the eyes
- Affected vision or blindness
- Lumps or swelling in the body
- Fatigue
- Pain in joints or bones
- Easy bruising
- Persistent headaches
- Unexplained limping
- Appearance of new moles on the body
- Frequent vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow growth
- Sudden changes in speech
- Hoarseness

Risk Factors
- Genetic changes
- Infections

Common Types of Cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Kidney cancer
- Retinoblastoma (eye cancer)

Prevention
- Ensure that children are vaccinated against HPV
- Seek immediate medical attention when you observe any abnormal signs
- Regular cancer screenings and lifestyle modification
- Routinely check your body for any changes

Symptoms in Adults
- Unusual bleeding in the genital area
- Bleeding gums
- Blood when coughing
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Excessive bloating and gas
- Non-healing wounds or sores
- Difficulty urinating (common in men)
- Skin changes
- Unusual lumps in the body

Taking Care of the Baby
- Always attend the baby’s hospital visits.
- Avoid changing the people who will assist in looking after the baby.
- Always keep the baby’s toys clean and disinfected.
- Exclusively breastfeed the baby.
- It helps reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Reduces the risk of infections and other illnesses.
- Helps maintain the baby’s weight.
- Reduces the mother’s risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Clean your nipples before breastfeeding.
- Keep the house clean.
- Avoid using strongly scented perfumes, as the baby may suffocate them while feeding.
- Wash and iron the baby’s clothes.
- Do not drink alcohol or smoke while breastfeeding.
- It can harm the baby.
- Nicotine and alcohol can pass into breast milk.
- It can increase the risk of non-communicable diseases in the baby.

Male Involvement
- Try to assist with some chores.
- Make sure not to disturb the woman while breastfeeding.
- Assist in looking after the baby.
- Try to attend the baby’s hospital visit.
- Avoid stressing your partner.
- Stress decreases secretion of breast milk.
- It affects the baby’s emotional state.

Alcohol
Health Impacts of Alcohol
- It increases the risk of diabetes.
- It leads to fatty liver disease or liver disease.
- It triggers high blood pressure.
- It damages the heart.
- It decreases appetite.
- It increases the risk of cancer.
- It raises the risk of stroke.
- It weakens the immune system.
- It leads to dehydration.
- Alcohol increases the risk of internal bleeding, especially when taking medication.
- It can make medications less effective.
- It can cause medications to become toxic to the body.
- It affects mental health.
- It impacts the brain.

QUESTIONS ON THE DISCUSSED TOPICS:
Questions taken from listeners are as follows:
Q1. What happens if you forget to take ulcer medication before eating? Is it safe to take it after eating?
Ans: It is recommended to take medication as prescribed by healthcare professionals. Ulcer medication becomes less effective if you take it after eating. Set a reminder for the pills.
Q2. Is a nosebleed part of growing up?
Ans: It may be due to several reasons, including allergic reactions or hypertension. It is recommended to report it to a hospital to check the seriousness of the bleeding. You can also put ice cubes raped in a cloth on the face over nose while going to the hospital.
Q3. Some people only use natural plants to make alcohol, especially fruits. Is homemade alcohol safe?
Ans: The impact is still negative since the drink contains alcohol with effects similar to those of regular beers or alcohol.

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