childhood Flashcards
- Define perinatal mental health
Preconception until the infant is around 24 months old.
This area considers maternal and infant mental health.
Understands that early intervention is important to maximise health outcomes for mother and infant.
- How might maternal mental illness impact on an infant or child’s health and development?
- How might maternal mental illness impact on an infant or child’s health and development?
- Child may have to take on extra responsibility
- Inconsistent parenting
- Child may see behaviours that are difficult to understand for their age
- Children may end up vulnerable- eg foster homes
- Impaired mental health with a primary caregiver (e.g. .maternal depression) can mean that children’s emotional needs are not met (e.g. mirroring and soothing), development is not encouraged (e.g. frequently in bed)
Type of attachment - Secure
Describe the presentation
An infant / child will appear and feel relaxed in the presence of their primary caregiver. They will be able to be soothed by their primary caregiver and explore themselves and their environment, referencing back to their primary caregiver for encouragement and support if needed.
Type of attachment - Ambivalent
Describe the presentation
The child explores little and is wary of strangers, even when the primary caregiver is present. The child fluctuates between being angry and resistive to the primary caregiver and seeking proximity.
Type of attachment - Avoidant
Describe the presentation
The child generally attempts to avoid their caregiver. Showing apathy when a parent is present, or now. This child believes communication has no influence on its caregiver.
Type of attachment - Disorganised
Describe the presentation
An infant/ child finds their primary caregiver emotionally unavailable. They do not find comfort from them when they need support. Therefore, these children frequently present as independent, self-sufficient and competent beyond their years.
What are the protective factors in childhood against the development of mental illness?
Early attachment to a parent
Positive experiences at school
Positive relationships with another adult
Easy temperament
What are some of the risk factors in childhood for the development of mental illness?
8 Marital quality and interactions 9 Poverty and social class 10 Abuse 11 Death 12 Other factors may include: homelessness, disaster, discrimination and poverty
What behaviours may indicate issues with mental health in children?
1 Difficulties with sleep 2 Difficulties with feeding 3 Difficulties in mood and relating to others 6 Overly active behaviours 7 Frequent tantrums and defiance
Ellie is three years old. She lives with her parents in a block of units in an inner- city suburb. Ellie’s mother drinks a lot of alcohol and often has arguments with Sean, Ellie’s stepfather. Maureen, a retired woman in her 60’s, lives next door. Ellie loves spending time with Maureen, who has developed a close bond with Ellie”.
• Discuss the risks and protective factors for Ellie.
Risks: Maternal alcohol use, marital instability
Protective factors: Bond with Maureen.
• How could Ellie’s relationship with Maureen affect her future relationships?
Ellie is receiving a close relationship from Maureen. This is protective as she is learning how a relationship can be, rather than what she knows from her living situation.
- What are the potential challenges a nurse may face when engaging with and assessing the health of a child?
- Communication issues due to developmental and/ or chronological age
- Parental resistance and/ or consent
- Access
- Time restrictions
- Environmental restrictions
- Difficulty establishing a therapeutic relationship
Adolescence
- What are the main developmental tasks associated with Adolescence?
Successful transition to secondary school, learning skills for later life, psychological autonomy, developing close relationships with and between genders, forming a personal identity.
Adolescence
- How do the risk factors for mental illness change in this group, in comparison with infants and children?
Poverty, isolation, accommodation, school factors related to performance and attendance, family factors including connectedness, peer friendships and the nature of peer interactions, and childhood characteristics/ risks.
Adolescence
- Discuss how “identity” influences self- concept and mental health in adolescence.
Adolescents develop identity partly through risk taking behaviours. This occurs so they can challenge their perceptions of themselves and their schemas. Non acceptance is a known risk factor for suicide. Family acceptance of identity is more protective.
