Children under stress: How to recognize and prevent mental health disorders?

Abstract

Stress, as a multifactorial phenomenon, plays a significant role in the etiology of mental health problems in children, with long-term effects on neurobiological, emotional and cognitive processes. Exposure to stressors such as family dysfunction, trauma and social pressures can lead to the development of anxiety, depressive disorders and dysfunctional behavioral patterns. Early identification of stress symptoms, such as anxiety, social inhibition and emotional lability, is crucial for the prevention of later psychopathological manifestations. Psychotherapeutic interventions have shown high efficacy in modifying maladaptive cognitions and behaviors, and in strengthening emotional resilience. Interventions aimed at increasing social support and developing coping strategies can significantly reduce the risk of persistent psychopathological disorders.