17 July 2007
Dear Sir,
We welcome Sue Palmer’s broad ranging look at the many factors that can impact on our children’s mental wellbeing (Why are children today so unhappy?, 17 July.) With the publication this week of the Children’s Society survey of family life and the National Consumer Council’s report on the impact television can have on children, this area is getting some long overdue attention.
In order for our society, not to mention our economy, to remain strong we need our children to grow up into well-adjusted adults. While the government will no doubt have its part to play in making this happen, there are small, commonsense steps we can all take.
Parents can have the courage to let their children walk to school, for example. The exercise is great for mental health, as is the social interaction with other children along the way. We can impose discipline on our children’s TV viewing habits, rather than using the TV as an easy way to get some peace and quiet.
As your correspondent correctly notes, getting these small things right is somewhat more important than rocket science. Where our children’s happiness and our country’s future are at stake, we all need to start taking responsibility.
Dr Andrew McCulloch
Chief Executive
The Mental Health Foundation
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