The role of the family in mental health

Some parents are blamed for having naughty, restless and unsuccessful children and teenagers and the problems they cause in the family and society. Education and mental health specialists, after studying and examining the statistics related to such children, usually blame the families, but one should ask who helps the parents in raising children? And what efforts and measures have been taken to educate them so that they can prevent such issues and maintain the psychological balance of the family and, as a result, the society?

What is the role of the family in children’s mental health?

Family is one of the most important factors in the all-round development of a child. The influence of the family on the child begins without introduction with a special learning power and is revealed throughout the person’s life. The impact of the correct relationship between parents and children and its importance is not hidden from anyone because children have the characteristic of “following other morals”. That is, they imitate their parents’ behavior with their eyes closed, and for this reason, education scholars all believe that the role of parents is It is undeniable in the formation of children’s personality and is one of the most important factors in providing children’s mental health. Psychoanalytic theories also emphasize the importance of the impact of early experiences and child-parent relationships on the child’s behavior and attitude, and theorists in social learning also give importance to the duration of learning in the family and look at the concept of family from this lens and the degree of influence of parents on the child. And they emphasize their role in providing mental health.

Characteristics of a good family:
1. Children in the family have been accepted and the center of love and attention, so they should be aware of it.
2. Children should have freedom according to their age and needs within the framework of balanced moral and educational standards.
3. They should be given responsibility according to their age and abilities.
4. Express what they feel to their parents without fear.
5. They can share their thoughts with their parents and benefit from their experience, exchange of opinions and thoughts.
6. Their mistakes and errors should be corrected and improved without corporal punishment, mockery and humiliation.
7. The sense of interaction, empathy and cooperation in the warm and intimate environment of the family should be conveyed to them.
8. Rely more on children’s successes and progress than on failures and mistakes.

If parents pay attention to at least two points in communicating with their children, they have helped to ensure their mental health, one of which is the presence of “respect” in relationships, which means behavior that creates a sense of value, satisfaction and satisfaction in the other party. Creating a feeling of “understanding and empathy” is another way. First, this feeling of understanding between parents and children should be created so that guidance, training, advice, and admonishment can be effective.
In general, it should be said that emotions are a part of our existence. We can determine the time and manner of their occurrence by ourselves, provided that we are aware of their existence, and it is important for children to know how they feel in order to reduce the accumulation of unknown and confused emotions inside them. By reflecting their children’s emotions and feelings as they are and not as they themselves interpret, parents make them creatively seek to change, correct and improve themselves.

What effect does parents’ attitude have on children’s mental health?

How parents relate to children depends on their attitude. Many attitudes of parents are formed even before the birth of the child, and some others are formed based on the demands they have from their children. But in general, the attitude of parents is created by the cultural values, personality patterns of parents and their inference from the concept of the role of parents. Based on this, the type of relationships they have with their children and their education in the form of “excessive restrictions”, “excessive facilitation” and “complete submission to them”, “being autocratic and self-righteous”, “discriminating” or It appears in accepting and loving parents and these reactions are all affected by their attitude.

What methods can be used to provide mental health?

By understanding and knowing the meaning of children’s behavior, it is possible to help their mental health because many of the inconsistencies of children and adolescents are the result of parents’ lack of knowledge about them, and even many coaches and teachers do not have the necessary knowledge of children and adolescents and their issues and problems. They are careless and disinterested. In order to solve this problem, parents should be able to have a proper interpretation of their children’s behavioral manifestations in order to solve their problems. By creating suitable opportunities, they can teach their children the skills of establishing relationships with others and allow them to share their opinions. Undoubtedly, it is in the shadow of correct and healthy family and social relationships that mental health will also be achieved.