Health
A Kano-based pyschiatrist, Dr Maryam Umar has advised parents to ensure effective monitoring of their children behavior to detect autism at an early stage.
She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as part of activities to mark the 2022 World Mental Health Day, on Monday in Kano.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Mental Health Day, is an international day for global mental health education to create awareness and advocate against stigma.
It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.
The 2022 theme of the Day is “Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority.”
The psychiatrist said that children with autism display strange behaviors at initial stage, adding the symptoms could be visible as the child would be engaged in attitudes to seek for attention.
According to Umar, autism is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain and remained a mental health issue.
“People with autism often have problems with social communication and interaction as well as restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests.
“Though they may have different ways of learning, moving or paying attention,” she said.
The psychiatrist advised parents to look out for children avoiding eye contact, not responding to names at their ninth months and not playing certain games at age of 12. (NAN)
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Tags: Maryam Umar
