Prevention rather than cure should start early for mental health

Prevention rather than cure should start early for mental health.

Rather than waiting for mental health problems to occur, and then treating them afterwards, leading patients to take much of the blame for their own problems, mental health screening should be offered to children at various point within their lives , a move which could help destimatise and prevent mental health problems in later life, according to this article in OnMedica As someone who has struggled with depression since chilldhood, this seems like a good idea to me.

And with Ava recently getting a school certificate commending her for ‘doing the right thing at all times’, i wonder whether she is showing signs of the perfectionism and over-conscientiousness that has blighted a lot of my life. I told her in no uncertain terms it was ok sometime to do the wrong thing, but I’d be grateful if this seemingly idealistic trait was viewed through the lens of a mental health professional, rather than being encouraged by over enthusiastic primary school teachers.