Interesting article on PubMed Central that zeroes in on the mental health challenges of the children of affluent families:

 

"Children of the Affluent - Challenges to Well-Being"

(Suniya S Luthar, Shawn J Latendresse)

 

 

Their research demonstrates that this group of young people, in spite of the evident advantages and opportunities that their family's wealth affords them, can still suffer significant mental health challenges. The authors have isolated the following factors as important:

 

- Perfectionism

- Isolation

- A preference for privacy from affluent parents

- Peer over-weighting of factors such as attractiveness and popularity

 

The article noted that children who ate family dinner together with their parents, did better, mental-health-wise...

 

> We shouldn't under-estimate that all human beings, no matter what their demographic, need relationship and understanding.

This is especially true of children and young adults who are developing their sense of self and learning how to manage their emotions.

 

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy can fill some of the gaps - but is not a replacement for active, sensitive parenting. Online and face-to-face psychotherapy with children and teens can add the understanding of the emotions that children need and help them develop a strong and resilient sense of self. It can help change a rainy deficit into something wise and loving.