Clinical psychologist Dr Rajkumari Basu will launch her new book ABC of Happy Hearts, on July 23, where ‘A for apple’ quickly transforms itself to ‘A for affection’ and so on. The pictorial descriptions and lucidity of language give an insight into the essentials of the well-being of a child’s mental health. Many issues arise because we don’t teach children about emotional well-being from an early age. Each life stage involves growth, both physically and emotionally. Without early education in emotional self-care, children may struggle with challenges later in life. Therefore, it’s vital to nurture healthy emotional habits in children within loving home and school environments. ABC of Happy Hearts can tell you where to begin.

“I hope to see children grow with a strong foundation in emotional understanding. I plan to follow this book with editions in Hindi and Bengali, advocating for a shift in our educational approach to include emotional well-being without the stigma that often surrounds it. By teaching children to understand and express their feelings effectively, we can nurture happier, more balanced individuals and, in turn, bring joy to their families,” said the author. A t2 chat with Dr Basu:

What is the concept behind your book?

There is no health without mental health. We’re concerned about physical health from the time of conception to the last day of life. But mental health is neglected. In schools, various sports and extra-curricular activities focus on physical health. But there’s no provision to spread awareness about mental well-being amongst children. So I strongly feel health and well-being should be a part of our education system right from childhood to make them grow into happy beings.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

In my 26 years of teaching in Loreto College as head of the psychology department and clinical practice, I have come across plenty of students and clients with various issues related to well-being. This made me realise that psychological problems are increasing and treating patients at a cross-sectional level will not solve the problem. Rather some changes in the education system should be made.

Since when did you start focusing on child psychology?

Child psychology was a part of the graduation and post-graduation syllabus. However, when I started clinical practice and saw children suffering from ADHD, ADD, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and behavioural problems, I began thinking about how to help them and their parents. My purpose was to educate them so that they become equipped to take care of their children with such issues on their own.

How do you think your book will benefit families in general?

In my book, ‘A’ is not for ‘apple’ but ‘affection’. It’s a feeling that we nurture in families. In addition to this, ‘B’ is not for ball and ‘C’ is not for cat but for ‘blessings’ and ‘care’, respectively. Therefore, as you can see, the words in my book have a direct relation to family values. Practising them would enhance their emotional intelligence and ability which will help them in having healthy family interactions. And in this process, our entire society would be benefitted. So it’s not just related to family but has a widespread impact on everyone.

How important do you think is mental health awareness among children?

Children learn through observation. That is, they learn what they see and eventually practise them. Nowadays, sadly, they are observing conflicts, stress, depression, anger, increased screen time, and unhealthy distractions, and the list is never-ending. The concept of physical health is to take care of the body. So they’re into jogging, swimming, cycling etc. Parents enrol their children in various sports coaching like football, badminton, etc. My book will draw their attention towards the positive attributes of being human. They’ll learn about the importance of being grateful and thankful. They’ll understand the importance of empathy. Talking about mental health won’t be a stigma anymore. They’ll openly talk about their emotional vulnerability just like they talk about their day-to-day stuff like books, movies, food, dress, and other topics.