Children’s Rights, Family Dynamics, and Mental Health

Children’s Rights, Family Dynamics, and Mental Health Presented by: Prof. Dr. Mikloško Date: April 13, 2025 Introduction - 20.11.1924 • - 20.11.1959 • - Geneva declaration UN Declaration of the rights of the child 20.11.1989 • Convention on the rights of the child Preamble of The Convention - Acknowledging, that a child should grow up in a family, in atmosphere of love, happiness and understanding to have a full and balanced development of his/her personality Research Of Children’s Opinions (2022 1296 Children 12years Old) Relationships in family You feel secure: • 1. W. mother 96% (83% + 13%) • 2. W. father 91% (77% + 14%) • 3. W. grand parents 90% (67% + 23%) • 4. W. other relatives 81% (33% + 48%) • 5. W. siblings 75% (42% + 33%) - I would speak about me problems • 1. mother 81% (60% + 21%) • 2. other 67% (43% + 24%) with: • 3. Grandparent 65% (36% + 29%) • 4. súrodencovi 54% (28% + 26%) - Important persons in my life: • 1. mother 97% (93% + 4%) • 2. Grandparents 96% (81% + 15%) • 3. farther 93% (85%+8%) • 4. siblings 86% (66% + 20%) • 5. Other relatives 87% (39% + 48%) Relationships in family - Quality of the family environment is the most important protective factor against psychical problems of a child What Are Children Afraid Of Most Of All? - Children feel the most intense fear (answer definitely yes) of following: • 1. that they could be separated from one or both parents 42% (+13% almost yes= 55%) • 2. that they won't have anywhere to stay 36% (+17%=53%) • 3. from death 34% (+19%=53%) • 4. of divorce 32% (+15%=47%) • 5. family financial problems 31% (+26%=57%) • 6. unsuccess in school 24% (+37%=61%) Growing Pandemic Of Family Break – Ups - Almost 50% of families fall apart - 20% long lasting, destructive break - ups /divorces - Break - up of the family = shattering the children's trust in those closest to them The Effect Of Divorce On The Child - 37% serious consequences, lasting over 5 years Family Conflicts - 1. Parental agreement - 2. Children participation - 3. Collision guardian COVID Crisis Caused Growth: - Mental disorders from 20% to 30% - Depression - 3 times as high - Anxiety - 2 times as high - Risk of suicide – 3 times as high Mental issues of children and youth 2022 - The more time children spend on social media, the more they show symptoms of mental health issues… - Growth by 31% - The highest - affective emotional disorders + stress - related disorders - Growth in eating disorders -31% - Loneliness - the most important cause of seeking help with 61% of children the initiator of problems - Feeling of failure I don't like myself - Life without relatives = biggest toxic stress of the child - EMOTIONS outside of rational control - Transgenerational transmission of the bonding - 95-98% • Violence - 33% - 66% transgenerational transmission! (Felitti et al, 1998; Strauss, 2011) SUICIDES - Every 40 seconds 1 suicide x - x every 8 sec. suicide attempt - WHO - 2 greatest cause of death of children, after car accidents - 1800 children in Slovakia - per month search - -,I want to kill myself" - IPčko Bad relations and neglect - negative influence on the brain Perry, B.D. & Pollard - 80% of diseases has a psychosomatic origin D Hrtúsová POVERTY - In Slovakia, currently every third family is in danger of falling into poverty or of losing their place to live. - 21% of Slovak households is under the poverty line, where their monthly income does not exceed 500 euros. - 24,87% of households are single parent households 1/2 of them is at the danger of falling into poverty Relationship Bond – Attachment - It is essential for mental health that the infant, and later the young child, experience a warm, intimate and uninterrupted relationship with the mother (or her permanent substitute) in which both find satisfaction and joy." • John Bowlby, 1969 Love me when I get dirty, because if I were clean everyone would love me...Dostojevský - Unconditional love - Borders - Institute for Family Studies together with analyst company Gallup USA - 6 643 parents including 2 956 parents, which live with an adolescent, and 1 580 pubescents