The early years of a child’s life
They are not only the most vulnerable but also the most significant for determining potential for lifelong learning and development. These are the years in which the child’s brain is developing at its fastest pace – social and personal habits are forming and the foundation is being laid for life. This is therefore the age or stage in education when the need for a developmentally appropriate curriculum cannot be overstated, to ensure a sound foundation.
The first six years of a child’s life are now being universally recognised as the most crucial years due to the rapid pace of development at this stage. A qualitatively rich environment is therefore most essential in these years to optimize a child’s overall development and help him/her realize the full potential. Keeping this in view this program aims at making the pre-school stage wholly and comprehensively child oriented which is different from tradition – based approach which happens to be expectation – oriented and teacher – oriented.
Children universally pass-through identifiable stages of development. In each stage, there are certain limitations and capacities to the child’s potentiality of learning. Before any instruction or any teaching can begin, the teacher needs to consider the child’s cognitive development, language development and mastery of pre-requisite concepts and skills. At the pre-school stage, the teacher should clearly have in her mind as to what she expects to achieve by the end of pre-school stage. The development and skills to be attained have to be rooted in and correlated with the developmental stage of every child. The teachers have to keep in mind that even at the entry point a child is not a clean slate to start with; the child does know something about so many things. Therefore, the most important consideration when a child is readied for learning is what the child already knows. And hence, the child may be readied for learning by making use of what she/he already knows.
Learning from the womb till we go to the Tomb
A Glimpse into the Teenage World
Teenagers face real concerns, between 13 and 19 years of age, on a daily basis as this is the most awkward growth stage of their lives. During this time, teens are exposed to some overwhelming external and internal struggles. They go through, and are expected to cope with hormonal changes, puberty, social and parental forces, work and school pressures, and so on. Many teens feel misunderstood. It is vital that their feelings and thoughts are validated and that the validation comes from their parents. Parents need to approach their children, who have been dealing with teenage growth issues, carefully and in a friendly manner to discuss the concern(s).
The common teenage problems that teenagers face today are usually related to
- Self-Esteem and Body Image
- Stress
- Bullying
- Depression
- Cyber Addiction
- Drinking and Smoking
- Teen Pregnancy
- Underage Sex
- Defiant Behaviours
- Peer-Pressure and Competition
Dementia and Old Age
Dementia is a health condition that involves impairments to memory and thinking due to any injury or disease-causing damage to the brain. Common challenges faced by dementia patients include memory loss (general), a sudden shift in behaviour or mood change, confusion, loss of speaking ability, and trouble walking and in balance. These behavioural changes will lead to the social exclusion of the affected, resulting in agitation, anxiety, aggression, and depression in dementia patients.
The maximum number of older people have agonized from cognitive disability, and a long-term disease caused by this condition considerably adversely affects the patient’s regular cycle of living. One interdisciplinary approach is palliative care, practiced and meant to improve the quality of life, particularly for dementia patients. A lot is required from caregivers of the patients, and the duties can also be extensive. Education and awareness are the most crucial aspect for caregivers. Cognitive simulation therapy and reminiscence therapy are effective therapies to improve the quality of life and better management of symptoms in people with dementia.
Loneliness is a significant problem for most dementia patients, and this may trigger anxiety and depression. Hence it is critical to attend to the psychosocial needs of the patients to ensure they are emotionally more stable. Further, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to recognize the different kinds of care required per the progression of the disease and its negative impact on the patients.
Elderly dementia people suffered severely during the COVID-19 pandemic and were more prone to depression, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Activities like book clubs, movies, therapy animals, and contact with family members using plastic protective barriers help them recover better post-pandemic era and relieve them from stressful conditions. Because of the cognitive state of elderly dementia, adults felt it difficult to adhere to the guidance of social distancing, hand hygiene, face masks, etc.
eventually – Learning to live happily and peacefully
Suicides and suicide prevention
More than half the suicides (54%) in the world occur in China and India.
The social stressors associated with suicide are loneliness, rejection, and marital conflicts in developed countries, whereas inter-generational conflicts, love failure, and exam failure are found in developing countries. A highly significant relationship between domestic violence and suicidal ideation in women has been found in many developing nations in population-based studies. Suicide pacts and family suicides are frequent in India, China and Sri Lanka. Women outnumber men in pacts, which are often for social and economic reasons and as a protest against societal norms and expectations.
The different risk and protective factors and the scarcity of human and economic resources necessitates the development of integrated suicide prevention strategies in developing countries, which function at the individual, family, community and societal level. Specially designed programmes for the women and the young, who are the most vulnerable populations, need to be initiated. More importantly, suicide prevention programmes need to be locally relevant, culturally appropriate and cost effective.
Suicide prevention in developing countries is more a social and public health objective than a traditional exercise in the mental health sector.
