Today is World Children’s Day. More than 50 cities and communities across China are joining their counterparts around the world to reaffirm their commitment to children’s rights. Every year, UNICEF creates a space where children can voice their opinions on an issue that is important to them. This year’s theme in China is an issue of growing concern: the mental health of children and adolescents.

UNICEF defines mental health problems as a range of conditions, including anxiety and depression, that affect a child’s thoughts, feelings or behavior and can negatively impact their ability to learn and function at school, at home and in the community.

Around the world, poor mental health causes children and young people to suffer. It is the most important cause of death, disease and disability, especially for older adolescents. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, more than 13 percent (one in seven) of children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old worldwide are living with a diagnosed mental health condition. This seriously affects their childhood.

Many children and adolescents in China also experience high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. According to the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2022, more than 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 6 to 16 are living with one or more mental health conditions. This condition often stems from academic pressure, bullying, online exposure, and relationships with others. children and parents.

However, with the right intervention, many of these conditions can be prevented or treated. UNICEF is working with the Chinese government to solve this problem. For example, through our adolescent mental health program, we work with the National Health Commission and other partners to improve mental health services and skills in more than 300 schools, healthcare facilities and communities across China. This program includes lessons on mental health, encouraging adolescent participation, and empowering children to support their peers.

We work with the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other partners to train and support social and community workers who guide families through dealing with mental health issues. We support mental health counseling for affected children following natural disasters.

This year’s World Children’s Day campaign, “Listen to Every Child’s Voice, Brighten Their Future”, run by UNICEF together with the Ministry of National Education, draws attention to the mental health problems children face at school and at home and how best to respond to these problems. these. It includes a high-level event at a school in Chengdu, Sichuan province, where children will share the mental health challenges they face and how they are supported to cope. Other cities in China are painting murals about children’s mental health in schools and communities to spread awareness of mental health issues.

But this is not just the job of UNICEF and the Chinese government. It is everyone’s duty to support children’s mental health. The whole society needs to come together and support children. That’s why we’ve developed guides for parents, teachers and children themselves on how to recognize and respond to mental health problems, which we promoted through the World Children’s Day campaign and can be found on the UNICEF China website.

If you are a parent, we ask that you be patient with your child and appreciate him for who he is. Be kind and listen without judgment. Discuss mental health with your child and share your feelings openly. Educate yourself on the early signs of anxiety and depression and avoid the stigma. Help your child get enough sleep, exercise, and spend quality time with him. Finally, if you’re unsure of how to manage your child’s mental health, seek support from a healthcare professional.

If you are a child, we want you to know that mental health is just like physical health; We need to pay attention to it. It’s normal to feel stressed, anxious or sad sometimes. Your feelings are there for a reason, so don’t be ashamed of them. Be kind and help your friends; Listen to them and help them when they need it. Celebrate differences and don’t remain silent when it comes to bullying. If you’re not sure what to do, ask a trusted adult for help.

We celebrate World Children’s Day on November 20 because on this day in 1989, countries around the world, including China, agreed to protect children’s rights. To do this, they created the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This important document explains that all children, everywhere, have special rights to learn, grow, play, develop and reach their full potential.

Every child has the right to grow up in a loving, nurturing and safe environment, with supportive relationships and access to quality mental health and psychosocial support.

When we ignore children’s rights to good mental health and well-being, we undermine other rights, such as their right to learn. But if schools, parents, teachers and others can all take action on children’s mental health, we can help build a better future for everyone.

The author is UNICEF’s representative in China. The views do not necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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