Mental health: Our child's body is only as strong as its weakest part.

Our body can only be really strong when we take care of our food, exercise, rest, emotional and physical needs.

Most of us know the importance of exercise, balanced meals and rest. Yet, there are two needs that every human needs to remain happy and focused in life.

One of them is the emotional need. When the emotional need is not fulfilled the brain may go haywire. With a disturbed mind, all interest in life and the surroundings stops. Food, exercise and rest become unimportant. When that happens, health is bound to weaken. So the body can weaken due to a disturbed mind.

Here is a true story in which no names will be used so as to protect a child. There was a thirteen year old who was cared for by another relative since her parents divorced five years ago. When the parents divorced, none of them took the responsibility of caring for her. They just disappeared from the child, on different paths to different destinations. The child slowly and gradually felt her loss. Unlike other children, she had no one to call mummy or daddy. Unlike other children, she did not have someone to run to when she felt lost in her big, big, lonely world. Unlike other children there was no one who would whole-hearted hug or love her. In her mind, she was all alone. Then, one day, her aunt suddenly found her talking to herself, telling herself things.

The aunt realized something was very wrong and fortunately, she felt responsible enough to take her to a doctor. The little girl underwent psychiatric treatment. One of the teachers told me about her, hoping that I could find help for her through The Art of Living. I talked to her to find out her problem. With the aunt’s permission, I took her to satsang and an Art of Living teacher. We taught her the bhastrika, a breathing exercise, as well as some knowledge. It got her well again in two months. She became well enough to mix around with other children.She was no longer talking to herself. Thank God for that!

So, you see, exercise, food and rest may be sufficient but if there is no emotional support, the brain may break down.

And once the brain breaks down, everything else will eventually become worse. So, as parents, we ought to look into a child's mental health too.