Understanding Children’s Mental Health

Project Objectives

• To raise awareness among teachers about the importance of children’s mental health alongside academic, physical, and nutritional development.
• To equip educators with basic knowledge and tools to recognize emotional and behavioral challenges in children.
• To challenge harmful labels such as “naughty,” “hyper,” “inattentive,” or “disrespectful” by encouraging empathy and understanding of root causes.
• To create a bridge between schools and parents for spreading awareness and building a child-sensitive environment both at school and at home.
• To initiate school-level mental health interventions led by trained and sensitized teachers.

Project Summary

On 11 February 2023, Super Kid Initiatives organized a special workshop on children’s mental health at SchoolEdge, Uttara. The session was attended by 25 teaching staff, with the aim of initiating open discussion and awareness around the often neglected area of children’s emotional well-being. While we tend to focus on children’s academics, nutrition, and physical growth, their psychological needs are often overlooked. The workshop encouraged teachers to become more attentive and empathetic to children who are often labeled as difficult or problematic, helping them understand that such behaviors may be signs of deeper emotional needs or distress.

The session was jointly conducted by Tanzil Hasan, Founder & CEO of Super Kid Initiatives, and Sanjida Parvin, Psychologist. They provided practical insights and examples to help teachers better identify and respond to the emotional needs of their students. The workshop also emphasized the important role schools can play in spreading mental health awareness among parents.

Outcomes

• Educator Awareness: Participating teachers gained a foundational understanding of children’s mental health and the importance of emotional support in schools.
• Shift in Perception: The workshop challenged common misconceptions and labeling of children’s behavior, promoting empathy-driven approaches.
• Early Identification: Teachers were encouraged to observe students more carefully to recognize early signs of emotional or psychological distress.
• School-Parent Collaboration: The initiative laid the groundwork for schools to become advocates of mental health awareness within families.
• Commitment to Ongoing Support: The success of the workshop has motivated the organizers to promote further school-based interventions focused on mental wellness.