Mental health: A focus on children
The Covid-19 crisis has not just taken a toll on our physical health, but also affected our mental health. Meanwhile, what also shocked many is how Sushant Singh Rajput’s death led to four minors ending their lives, putting the focus back on mental health of kids.
Gurdip Punjj, who has two children Meher (10) and Mahir (5) shares, “Meher cried when she came to know about it. Later, she asked me why do people do this?”
Punjj adds, “I told her that it’s important to be with your family. She has been sleeping with me these days and our night conversations are the best when she opens up a lot.”
Ashish Chowdhry who’s raising his kids Agasthya (10), Salara and Sammah (both 5), and his late sister Monica and brother-in-law Ajit’s (who died in 26/11 Mumbai attacks) kids Kanishq (21) and Ananya (17), agrees.
He says, “We need to talk to them often, answer their queries even if they’re simple questions. Also, it’s important to maintain that equilibrium between being friends with your children and being strict.”
Juhi Parmar says, “In school, why do we teach our children only about achievers? Why not about those who tried hard but failed? When we play games, Samairra (7) always wants to win. I told her that if she wins, good, if she doesn’t, even after trying hard, she’s still a winner.”
Indraneil Sengupta says they keep daughter Meera (8) away from showbiz. “We want to bring her up like any other child. She has limited screen time. No social media for her.”
Sengupta shares one day Meera said that her school friends feel her parents are millionaires. “Children think like that about actors. So, Barkha explained to her that we aren’t rich. While we tell her when to study, we also let her be, but of course we know what she’s doing. There’s no formula for parenting, you learn it on the job,” he ends.