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The unforeseen surge in prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders and psychiatry disorders among children is well known. Regardless of the persevering debate on true rise versus increased detection - the "disorders" are of concern.

Amongst the range of developmental disorders, Autism spectrum disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are the most sensitised in recent times. Growing awareness within medical fraternity extending to community outside, has made early recognition a viable option.

An array of psychological problems spanning across all ages has pulled attention to the mental health of children and adolescents.

Nevertheless, the scientific community has elucidated some answers paving the direction for betterment of health of children.

Time to reflect on all that we know. What is really a good mental health for child? Why is mental health of a "child" so important? How it is different from "adults" or parents?

That journey of child growing into adulthood plays a significant role in providing and sustaining stable mental health.

Let us take the story of a child - say a girl.

The girl comes into this world holding a thread and begins her journey tethering that thread first to her caregiver, her mother who brought her here. From then on she hurls her thread to connect to MORE people around. With time, she builds more relationships and thereby builds a community for herself. At the same time, she learns facts and skills to thrive in this society - A Societal system made by us and several generations before us - a system filled with cultural diversity. However, most Importantly all along this journey, there is that very first thread always tied tight to her caregiver.

Let us look at the other side of coin - parents.

Parents bring children into this world. Children follow them, shadow every move of theirs, mirror all their qualities - good, bad, strength, weakness and everything. Parents literally find themselves in their children - in the good, bad, strength and weakness. Nonetheless, parents want only the best for their children. So they OBSERVE and LISTEN to their children. They mend their ways. They change themselves - the way they talk and behave - for children to emulate a better person. All this hard work is for a better tomorrow for their children including a good mental health!

So precisely speaking, the Parent - Child relationship nurtures a child's mental health. The relationship blooms along with this growing child. Growing is quite evident to us physically but child also matures psychologically in a quiet and invisible way. With this growing, child's world expands beyond parents. And there is a need for a community to shapen and bring out the best in a child. Finally, there is the "nature" that surpasses all our powers and control such as the Genetics of child - what the child inherits biologically to grow.

To sum it all up into 2 befitting proverbs :

1. "You reap what you sow" What we give to the child today, decides who he or she is tomorrow.
2. An African proverb which translates to: "It takes a entire village to raise a child" Not merely any community, a cohesive community working in unison is needed to help raise a child.

As Pam Leo, an Author rightly said - "You can't teach children to behave better by making them feel worse. When they feel better, they behave better"