At Wolf Creek Public Schools’ first ever Mental Health Symposium, the keynote speaker walked participants through the causes that lead to “troubled children” and what youth require to develop in a healthy, mature manner.
Beth Hachkowski, a registered psychologist, told the crowd a bit about her journey in the field of diagnosing the symptoms of mental health issues, during the Saturday Oct. 25 event.
When dealing with various issues Hachkowski’s work related to managing the symptoms in society. “We want children to realize their potential,” she said.
Hachkowski says, throughout her career, she has faced the challenge of lack of a process with a youth patient, especially when a parental support system was not in place. “Parents have weakened and they’re losing confidence in being the best thing for their children.”
According to Hachkowski, mental deficiencies can stem from arrested development delaying the maturity needed to develop feelings as a defense mechanism against vulnerable experiences. “The root of it all is sensitivities.”
“The other question we have to ask ourselves is: ‘Are our children’s brains equipping them to be in a wounding environment’,” she added.
Hachkowski says 40 per cent of today’s youth are less likely to show empathy than previous generations, and social networking means unlimited access to a stimulating environment where parents cannot protect their children.
Hachkowski also told the audience that today’s children are more receptive to a wounding environment due to the higher percentage rate of harder births and the affects it has on the development of the child.
The keynote speaker’s presentation advised that children have four needs from a mental development standpoint the first being children’s need to feel taken care of until truly capable of taking care of themselves. “It is one thing to be taken care of, it’s a whole other thing to feel taken care of,” said Hachkowski.
The second need stresses that children need a cocoon of warm, fulfilling attachment to mature. Thirdly, “children need a safe place to have their tears for what they need to adapt to.” Fourthly, children need shielding from the wounding world and Hachkowski says the best shield is a strong connection with caring adults.