Childhood through adolescence. Adolescence is an age of enthusiasm, liveliness, and other kinds of exuberance. The age range of 10 to 19 years is adolescence. It is during this period that many mental, physical, and behavioural changes take place in the life of an adolescent.
On the one hand, they grow up; on the other hand, they cannot completely leave their childhood. Emotions are high at this time and, to some extent, pass through mental tension. Adolescence is a very important and sensitive part of human life.
If the girls grow up with physical and mental health, then they will be established as skilled artisans and ambassadors of human liberation. As a result of physical changes during puberty, various types of curiosity, dilemmas, and excitement arise in the minds of adolescents.
At this time, adolescents become aware of their body, appearance, clothes, behavior, etc. These mental changes occur in the natural order of nature. A collection of emotional, physical, or behavioural problems or abnormalities in an adolescent that impair his or her social and daily life activities. There are 3.6 million adolescents in Bangladesh. Their mental illness is emotional, behavioural, or neurodevelopmental.
The picture of mental health problems that emerges in the latest survey of Bangladesh is quite alarming. About 18.4 per cent of adolescents suffer from mental illness. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is a state of physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being and the absence of disease or infirmity.
Simply put, mental health is a state of mind in which a person can understand his or her own abilities, cope with the normal stresses of life, and contribute to his or her community. Suicide rates are high among 15- to 19-year-old girls. The period from 10 to 19 years is crucial for all kinds of social and human development.
If proper mental care is neglected at this time, then after 15-20 years there will be a valueless society. At this time, behaviour in front of adolescents, unethical discussions, immoral activities, and disrespect and contempt of others in their own society have a negative effect on the mind. During this period, study is stressed, but no effective measures are taken for mental development.
As a result of behavioural and emotional changes in adolescents, many times they become mentally disturbed and are subjected to abuse, oppression, and cruelty, and normal mental development is disrupted. Adolescent depression and anxiety are both mental health problems.
Nutritious food, walking in the open air, various physical exercises, reading storybooks necessary for life, painting, writing competitions, biographies of wise men, and reading various advice words of successful people are very important for adolescents.
The golden childhood of adolescents is fading away; the history of the original family bond is going towards the destruction of tradition; it is deprived of social status, family tradition and practice of cultural norms, love, harmony, affection, and compassion.
All becoming brutal rather than humane, drifting towards deviance. Drunkenness, robbery-theft, smuggling, drug dealers-narcotics, and gang culture are involved in terrible crimes.
During adolescence, special care and the establishment of moral, humane, equal rights in the family, social environment, humility, manners, creation of a happy-beautiful environment, as well as loving and respectful friendly relations, will ensure a real human being with good mental health.
The country will also bring good fortune to the ten in the near future, and due to not growing mentally healthy, the inefficient, misguided adolescent will be known as a burden to the nation and not an asset to the country and the ten. If constructive thinking is not developed, the nation will be talentless, inefficient, and leadershipless.
Adolescents' futures will be bright, golden light, adequate sleep and rest, socio-cultural practices, psycho-social moral development, positive thinking, instilling a sense of respect, and emotional protection of the adolescent, which are responsible to a large extent for family happiness and comfort. They have to say, you can do it; you can be the best; you can do it.
In this case, there is no alternative for the family, society, and the state to play their proper roles. Adolescent-friendly health centres should be established at every union level in Bangladesh, where there will be counselling corners.
Adolescents should be counselled by their parents. All sectors of society should be involved, including sports, entertaining activities, parents, teachers, imams, community leaders, administration officials, and various types of media. Radio, newspapers, and television can play a major role in this.
The Writer is a Development Activist & Freelance Writer
