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Issues pertaining to mental health and the holistic growth of a child have been discussed in a newly launched book, Hope: Stories for a Healthy Mind. Written by Calcutta-based clinical psychologist Pragati Surekha and published by Scholastic India (Price Rs 295), the book is the first of a series that encourages parents and children to have an open discussion on issues that are often swept under the carpet. “The book is meant for both kids and their parents and they can read it together,” said Surekha on her second venture. Her first was a collection of verses.

Written in an easy style to attract kids, with accompanying illustrations, the book deals with problems like marital discord, obsessive compulsive disorder and adult depression that can affect the children of a household. There are also notes for parents in the end on how to boost self-esteem in a child.

Pragati begins with a school assembly scene. Ryan, a young student, is usually late for assembly, despite being egged on by friends Avi and Kabir. It’s a few pages later that the readers learn that he is bogged down with guilt. The reason: the child blames himself for his parents’ fights. He feels that his parents are continually at each other’s throat because he is a “bad child” and ends up feeling both unwanted and guilty. Finally, a teacher comes to Ryan’s aid and his parents realise the need for a conversation with their confused child.

Ryan’s classmates Kabir and Shoma are dealing with issues of their own, though their lives look trouble-free to him. Maybe what helps in their case is the open conversation that they have with their parents and therapists. Shoma is dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder, a condition that makes her late for school and even for breakfast. Finally, she manages to control her disorder thanks to a strong support system.

“I plan to deal with several mental health issues in this series, including different learning disabilities. I also want to write a book on how it is like to have a terminally ill patient at home. I started with issues that parents seldom discuss with their kids. We find that most children who come for counselling face some problem at home and hence I feel the need to spread awareness among parents,” said Surekha whose second book of the series is already with the publisher.

According to her, children can be taking into confidence about mental health issues and related problems from the time they are seven years. “Involve the child in your journey. Have age-appropriate conversations. Take the help of therapists. But have a transparent relation with your child to help him/her bloom,” she said.

The first book ends on a note of hope. “Solutions are always different for different families but at least the children are made part of the process and that’s a good start,” said Surekha.
The book was released virtually in the beginning of October. The illustrations have been done by Delhi-based Nina Sud.