As a Counselling Psychologist, practising mostly with young children and teenagers, the question of the link between a child’s immune system and their mental/emotional health is
often a topic of discussion with parents in the therapy space. Parents are usually puzzled when I ask questions about the physical health and wellbeing of their children; focusing specifically on illness history. Many children have ended up in my practice with parents who are absolutely exhausted with a child who is “forever sick”, where we often find that there are emotional stressors present, which are possibly contributing to a weakened immune system. We can talk about both of these components interchangeably; our mental health impacts our immune system and our immune system impacts our mental health.
As discussed in an article by Steinar Brandslet (2019) entitle Immune system and mental
health are connected, (a research study being conducted by Associate Professor Solveig
Merete Klæbo Reitan at NTNU's Department of Mental Health), states that research has shown that individuals with mental health diagnoses are more prone to being susceptible to immune systems weaknesses, and the same for those individuals who have been exposed to childhood neglect or trauma, become more susceptible to immune system disorders. The same is then said for the connection between some childhood immune infections, such as a high fever and bronchitis, and the later development of some mental health diagnoses, as children, adolescents and adults, as found by a study conducted by Danish iPSYCH psychiatry project (2015).
Research has shown us that toxic negative emotions that go unresolved can cause serious
health outcomes. The feeling of anger, for example, affects blood pressure, and high blood
pressure can have negative health outcomes. It has been demonstrated by scientists that
anger can place so much stress on the body that it directly affects the body’s immune
system. Similarly, a hormone called Cortisol is released when one is under stress, and
although it does serve a necessary function of flight or fight, when this hormone is released
often or for extended periods of time, it can have a negative impact on the functioning and
wellness of the body, in adults and in children. When an individual is stressed, it reduces the body’s ability to metabolize and detoxify, leaving a window open for effects on the immune system. Negative experiences or emotions as a child, left untreated, can have lasting effects, often observed in adulthood in the form of a weakened immune system. Dr Jenna Maccioch, an immunologist, published an article titled Mental Health: emotions and
immunity coverage (2019) where it is stressed that the link between the brain and the
immune system is very strong, one that should not be denied, and one that should be
highly considered when it comes to children.
Although this is not the time to panic, and if your child has had an immune infection, this
does not mean that they will develop a mental health diagnosis. Neither does it mean that if
your child had a mental health diagnosis that they will forever have a weaker immune
system. It simply stresses the importance of being mindful of the connection between the
two. A child’s immune system has the possibility of impacting their mental health, just as
their mental health has the possibility of impacting their immune system. It is important as
parents and caregivers to focus on strengthening both of these components in our children.
If you or your child are experiencing immunity difficulties, perhaps this is the time to
evaluate if there are any possible emotional stressors that could be contributing and to
seek psychological support. In the same breath if you or your child are experiencing
emotional stressors, seek the necessary support. Your own psychological and emotional
wellbeing is just as important as that of your child’s, and it may be having more of an impact on their and your own immunity than you realize.
Below is a list of information sources and for more personal reading for your own interest:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-08-immune-mental-health.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181205134057.htm
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/05/673700889/infections-may-raise-
the-risk-of-mental-illness-in-children
https://www.drjennamacciochi.com/blog/mentalhealth
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/mind-and-body-scientists-identify-immune-system-
link-to-mental-illness
https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128113516/the-immune-system-and-mental-
health
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/emotional-wellness_b_4612392