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Custody and the mental health of children

On Behalf of | Aug 11, 2020 | Child Custody

Parents have many concerns while working through the end of their marriage, from those which are financial in nature to legal matters involving their kids (custody, child support and so on). Parents also need to think about the well-being of their children, especially in terms of mental health. There are many ways in which divorce affects children, but parents can take steps to minimize the emotional toll of divorce for themselves as well as their kids.

If you are working through a divorce or simply thinking about the possibility of ending your marriage, you need to reflect on your children and their mental health during these major changes.

Major life events, custody and children

According to information that was published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, many children are resilient in the wake of their parents’ divorce and do not display noticeable psychological problems as a result of custody issues and the divorce process.

However, divorce can potentially raise concerns with respect to a child’s mental health, in the months following divorce and later in their lives. For example, some children struggle with their emotions when they have a graduation or wedding ceremony and one of their parents is not present. Moving into a new home, changing schools and living in a stressful household environment are other common issues for children.

Mental health challenges some children face due to custody matters

Unfortunately, some children develop unhealthy habits when their parents split up, such as excessive drinking, drug use, dangerous sexual activity or overeating. Sometimes, working with a counselor is an effective way to combat these negative emotions. Moreover, parents who are able to work together during their divorce often help their children process these changes more efficiently, especially if both parents are able to play an active role in the child’s life.