Mental health experts have called on parents and caregivers to seek professional help for children experiencing behavioural changes, warning that childhood trauma is often wrongly attributed to spiritual attacks or supernatural causes.
The experts spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where they stressed that misconceptions surrounding mental health continue to delay treatment for many children dealing with the effects of traumatic experiences.
Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Dr. Sunday Amosu, said many children who have experienced traumatic events are frequently labelled as stubborn or spiritually afflicted instead of receiving appropriate psychological care.
According to him, traumatic experiences such as road accidents, physical abuse, domestic violence or witnessing violent incidents can have lasting psychological effects on children, often resulting in sudden changes in behaviour and emotional wellbeing.
“Often, in our culture, many things we do not understand are attributed to spiritual causes,” Amosu said. “Many people who are actually suffering from trauma are labelled as having spiritual problems. But in reality, their behaviour may simply be the result of trauma. They may become withdrawn, isolated or behave differently from other children.”
He noted that such misconceptions often prevent families from seeking timely medical attention, while some children are instead taken to religious centres for deliverance or are punished for behaviours linked to emotional distress.
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Amosu also warned against comparing traumatised children with their peers or dismissing symptoms of depression and anxiety as laziness or disobedience, saying such attitudes could worsen their condition.
Another Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Samuel Aladejare, urged parents to seek psychiatric or psychological support once they notice persistent behavioural changes following a traumatic event.
He explained that professional counselling and therapy provide children with a safe environment to process their experiences, develop healthy coping strategies and gradually return to normal social and academic activities.
The experts stressed that improving public awareness of mental health issues and reducing stigma are essential to ensuring that children affected by trauma receive early intervention and appropriate treatment rather than being misunderstood or neglected.
