Now, I'm going to be talking about preference. And basically, and we're going to try and discuss how common the issue of mental health issues is around children. Now, mental health itself is something that is new, it's not new among children, because children have always been suffering from mental health issues. Since that we, the adults have not been paying attention or have not been paying attention to the fact that children are suffering, you know, now, it is very obvious that it's quite confusing, you know, as children, you know, also go through normal default. And when they do go through the more torment, they have to learn to regulate their emotions, we'll talk about that. At least one in 10 children is experiencing mental health issues and in fact that is being considered as an epidemic for any teacher who is you know, working with this Children or anyone working in a school environment with this children between the age of five and 10 would know that every class that will be three children out of the factory children in a classroom, experiencing mental health issues, and that is something that cannot be overlooked.

Okay, because statistics clearly show that 8% of five to 10 year olds are experiencing mental health issues that is quite a big number. And it should not be overlooked by teachers. If you have the struggle and they're struggling in class, then definitely though it will have an impact on their learning. And that will also have an impact on overall performance and outcome. It even get worse, it gets worse. The older they grow, the worse it gets.

Research shows that among 11 to 15 year olds, at least have a sense of that population is experiencing mental health issues that is quite a big number and cannot be overlooked. But we have to remember that this is eyelid to middle adolescence, this children are experiencing changes in almost all areas of their lives as they're growing as well, a lot of risk of a take in order to know grow normally. But it also comes with the fact that the the mental health is at risk. So it doesn't get better, it really gets worse. Now for some people, it's even worse because they experience issues at home. And once they are exposed to this family issues, it affects their mental health and statistics show that four to 5% of children being looked after by social services or by you know, whatever it is that service that is available to look after them to find out this children, four to 5% of them are at risk of experiencing mental health issues.

So if you have them in your classroom have, say, for instance, a number of children who are looked after, it's very important that you pay attention to them, because at least half of them will be experiencing mental health issues. And, you know, based on the experiences, it's somehow understandable, but, you know, often because of the so much work that we have to learn expectations, that's something that we overlook. Now, in addition, some children have to leave in Ghana lifestyles, where, unfortunately, they've been born in this in this lifestyle, where parents or siblings incomes, statistics show that 40% of the population experiences mental health issues. So we have to remember that as well. And that is understandable, because they're exposed so much. This, there's so much going on around but they're just so young to be able to process all this information.

So, the list we have to know that was even as this didn't grow, if they do not get the help they need, they end up suffering from mental health issues. Research shows that at least 75% of adults who have mental health issues started experiencing emotional distress or mental health difficulties before the age of 18. And that is quite quite quite a high number. But as a therapist, I have seen this in the threat room and I'm always, you know, making sure that I get understand someone's background because you know, we are bought uninflated and whatever it is, we just suck on it from the environment. And if we, you know, grew up with mental issues not treated, we have no coping mechanisms that we have developed, then definitely, as we grow older and fis, more challenges, you know, life becomes more complex. We are going to end up in the situation where, you know we just end up being you know, clinically met health patient.