Over the past 50 years, there have been significant transformations towards the family model. In particular, new impacts are emerging that are greatly affecting children’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. Health has many social, physical, emotional and mental dimensions, which can be seen in the family matters overview of child well-being (OECD, 2016). Advancements in medicine, nutrition and healthcare as well as safer environments have allowed individuals to lead healthier and longer lives. According to the OECD (2016), research over the past decade has indicated a significant decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption, suicide rates, and accidental deaths amongst young Australians. However, there has been an increase in childhood …show more content…
2011). Based on the 2014-2015 National Healthy Survey, 27.4% of Australian children aged between 5 and 17 were overweight or obese, which was a slight increase of 1.7% since 2011-2012 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). According to the World Health Organisation (20, intervention during the early years of child development has the capacity to reduce health inequalities. School and education play a vital role in improving and supporting a child’s health and well being by promoting healthy lifestyle choices and communicating the many risks and consequences of unhealthy behaviours through programs and resources (OECD, 2016). An example of a program is ‘Crunch and Sip’ which addresses healthy eating habits and encourages children to ‘refuel’ and ‘rehydrate’ on fruit, vegetables and water throughout the school day (Crunch and Sip, 2017). In addition, schools should encourage physical activity throughout the school day and communicate with parents. The advantages to health education at school include familiarity of setting, learning from others and the support teachers can provide to students (Bisset, Wolfgang & Aveyard, …show more content…
Although there has been a decrease in suicide rates amongst OCED countries (OCED, 2016), suicide is still the leading cause of death for adolescents in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012). Cyberbullying is becoming a pervasive problem and victims report higher levels of depression compared to traditional forms of bullying (Wang, Nansel & Iannotti, 2011). Standardised tests such as NAPLAN has increased the amount of time spent studying, sedentary activity and stress levels, but has not improved academic results (ABS, 2010; ). Furthermore, currently one in six Australian children are living below the poverty line (Butler, 2016). These everyday stresses significantly affect their quality of life and education. Implications of mental health include poor academic and social outcomes and aggressive behaviour (Brown, Cashin & Graham, 2012). Therefore, this leads to the question of
Read, J., & Sanders, P. (2010). A straight talking introduction to the causes of mental health problems Herefordshire, UK: PCCS Books.
From Kindergarten to 12th grade, children spend most of their time at school. School, what we adults think, is supposed to be the teachers of our children while we are at work. They feed them lunch, and possibly breakfast, five days out the week, keep them active, and teach them all about their body and health in health class. But, are they really taking care of them enough? Some schools fail to serve healthy foods, teach health class, or even provide enough time to be physically active. One in three kids are obese, that is reason enough to care about these children’s lives at school. Schools are one of the reasons that the younger generation has a fast growing obese rate.
Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the last couple of years. In the 1970’s childhood obesity was never a concern to the public until the number increased over the years. An alarming rate of 31% of all adults have been obese since they were children and the rates of childhood obesity don’t fall too behind with an 18% of children being obese. That makes almost half of obese adults and children. A child that is obese has a 70-80% higher chance of staying obese even through their adulthood if no action is taken. Childhood obesity is not something children are in control of, these children suffer from different outcomes since they can’t look after themselves and heavily rely on someone to aid them when they need it. These numbers can be drastically altered in a positive way by educating both children and parents about healthy, nutritious foods to consume, supplying schools with better lunch and healthier vending machines with healthy choices and promoting after school activities to keep children active and away from electronics.
Mental illness in Australia is prevalent in younger generations from age 19 to 25. The women are affected more than the men are. Mental health problems are not adequately addressed in Australia. Hence, new steps and more focus is needed in mental care department (landstedt et al., 2016).The children in Australia are at a high risk of developing mental illness in adulthood. A survey was made to evaluate the reasons and prevalence of the mental illness in the children or from infancy. Since early childhood, there is a chance of 51.7% of mental illness. The reasons determined can be modified. The reasons include the behavioral aspect of the parents. Risk increases with smoking and alcohol consumption by the mother. This may result in mental illness
Mental health is defined as ‘not being present when psychological distress or maladaptive behavior is appropriate given a child’s age’ by The Health Advisory Service Report (HAS Report, 1995, Cited in Dogra, Parkin, Gale and Frake, 2008). This definition offers a fundamental basis to consider the source of a child’s mental health. In addition, The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2001, Cited in Dogra et al.) mentioned that mental health is a key component of health through which individuals are able recognise their own abilities. Mental disorders can affect mental health in numerous ways and are able to prevent or even reduce the likelihood of accomplishing any goals such as coping with the stresses of life.
It is apparent that living an unhealthy lifestyle, as well as eating poorly, negatively affects one’s health. From a young age it is quickly learned which foods are considered healthful as opposed to junk food. It is a parents responsibility to supervise the intake of their child's food, however there is a higher risk than ever before of childhood obesity.
...a and Mental Illness • Social Justice Solutions." Socialjusticesolutions.org, 2012. Web. 13 Jan 2014. .
Since the mid to late 1990’s, youth suicide has become a common cause of death for young Australians (Carter 2010 para. 1). The government then acted and managed to reduce the suicide rate, which was a success (Carter 2010 para. 2). After decades, the problem was re-encountered and it became one of the leading causes of death for people under 25 years old in Australia surpassing car accidents and skin cancer (Power 2013 para. 1).
Horton, R. (2007). Launching a new movement for mental health. The Lancet Global Health 370(9590), 806.
In the 21st century childhood obesity is regarded as one of the most serious public health challenges faced by the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2013). Figures recorded by the National Child Measurement programme for the 2011/12 period showed children aged 10-11, of which 14.7% were overweight and a further 19.2% figure were classed as obese. Statistics from the same report also indicate boys in the same age group are more likely to be obese with a figure of 20.7% compared to a 17.7% figure for girls. These figures are a large cause for concern for both these children and on a wider scale, society. Obesity is caused by a number of factors that can range from the not so obvious of social class, to the clear lack of exercise and poor diet. Obese or overweight children are more likely to carry this status into adulthood and put themselves at an increased risk of developing associated health problems such as raised cholesterol, high blood pressure and even premature mortality (Public Health England, 2013). Obesity is defined as the over consumption of calories in relation to little physical activity, this means calories consumed are not being burnt but turned into fat cells (NHS, 2012).
We want to solve the problem by helping kids and adults each healthier by making healthier lifestyle choices when it comes to eating. We also want to also increase physical activity of children and adolescents. I believe with the proper diet and exercise we can help decrease the obesity issue in this country that has grown so much in the past two decades. These steps are vital to helping prevent childhood obesity and even kids who currently suffer from childhood obesity. Since the 1970’s approximately 15 percent of children and adolescents are now overweight. "Prevent Childhood Obesity-Get Your Kids Moving!" Prevent Childhood Obesity-Get Your Kids Moving!
Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.
Physical education in schools improves children’s physical health. Getting the recommended amount of exercise can combat obesity. “Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions” (CDC.gov). PHIT America states,
When talking about school we think of children learning different subjects, history, math, science and etc. I think learning about health and healthy life choices is as important as any other subject, and that should not just be restricted to classrooms. Schools have a great possibility to educate young people about the importance of being healthy.
Establishing healthy eating habits from a young age is crucial in order to educate children how to eat healthily and furthermore, to prevent the growing number of children who are obese. In the above statement, Purvis emphasises how unhealthy children are today. Obesity is a massive health issue amongst children, not just in Scotland but also in the rest of the United Kingdom. In Scotland, 22.6% of children in primary 1 are at risk of being overweight or obese (Information