Mental Health Problems Can Emerge Alongside Developmental Tasks at Different Ages

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Clinical psychologist Miki Amrilya Wardati, S.Psi., M.Psi., said that every age group, from childhood and adolescence through early and late adulthood to old age, has developmental tasks that may trigger psychological problems, particularly mental health issues.

“While carrying out these psychological developmental tasks, people encounter challenges or obstacles that may eventually lead to psychological problems,” said Miki, a psychologist partner at Halodoc, at a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.

Miki said mental health problems such as anxiety disorders involve excessive fears that can be described as irrational. These fears may concern something that has not yet happened, or a situation that has occurred but is not as serious as the person imagines.

“This can lead to symptoms associated with depression, for example, losing someone significant or having problems with someone significant. These are often sources of depression,” she said.

According to Miki, people can feel worried even when the problem causing their anxiety has not yet occurred. This is connected to the various demands associated with psychological development at each stage of life.

“When people face the developmental tasks associated with each age and interpret them as threatening or difficult, irrational thoughts can arise. These may eventually develop into an anxiety disorder,” Miki said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously estimated that mental health disorders affect between one in eight and one in ten people globally.

About 4.4 per cent, or around 338,000 children, show symptoms of anxiety disorders, while 4.8 per cent, or around 363,000 children, show symptoms of depressive disorders.