A multidisciplinary panel dedicated to stress management, particularly within couples, and its impact on children was held in Thiès, at the initiative of the Darou Salam Neighbourhood Council (Thiès-East municipality), social services and mental health actors.

The meeting brought together parents, teachers, educators, psychologists, sociologists, community health workers, social workers, and professionals from Dalal Xel Hospital. It was an opportunity for Ablaye Ndione, deputy head of the Thiès Departmental Social Action Service, to reiterate the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to preserve children's psychological well-being.

“When poorly managed, marital stress directly affects the child. Hence the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving family, school, social services, psychologists, and sociologists,” the specialists explain. They add that “even when not directly involved in marital conflicts, children sense the tensions within the home.”

This situation can cause anxiety, behavioral problems, decreased academic performance, or social withdrawal. Professionals at Dalal Xel Hospital, for their part, emphasized the importance of early detection and psychosocial support.

 

During the panel discussion, practical tools were presented to participants: calm communication within the couple, emotional management, breathing exercises, active listening, and family mediation. The aim was to guarantee the child a stable and secure environment, even during periods of marital difficulties.

The initiative is part of a broader community awareness campaign. After Darou Salam, the organizers plan to extend activities to other target neighborhoods in the city of Thiès, including Hersent, Touba Peykouk, and Médina Fall, in order to reach a larger number of families.

The actors pointed out that preserving a child's mental health inevitably involves good management of family and marital stress.