Tais Silveira Moriyama (photo) is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in her hometown of Campinas, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. She was born in a Spiritist Family and is in charge of the child psychiatry department of Instituto Bairral, in the city of Itapira.

How did you become interested in psychiatry and particularly child psychiatry?

My father is a psychiatrist and my mother was a teacher before leaving work to dedicate her time to her family. They met while doing voluntary work in a Spiritist organisation that housed children, the Eurípedes Educational Establishment in the city of Campinas. I believe that that shared interest in the social and emotional development of children has been a pillar in their union. I spent my childhood hearing them discussing that issue, which may explain my interest for that field.

What advices can you given to parents looking out for the main symptoms of psychiatric disorder in children?

The main sign that a children needs to undergo a social and emotional assessment is if they fail to meet the development goals typical of their age. That may be very subtle and difficult to identify. A child who is late speaking, for instance, may be within its own pattern of development or may have some sort of disorder. To find out you need to carry out a complex assessment. Another example: a child who can’t make friends may be only shy, or may, on the other hand, suffer from social phobia or have low sociability. Yet another example: an eight-year-old who can’t sleep far from their parents may be suffering separation anxiety. The best way to find out is to hire a good professional to make an assessment of the child from time to time.  

Based on experience as a Spiritist and as a psychiatrist, is it possible to identify when a disorder is the result of problems in previous lives and when it has been developed in the current incarnation?

I believe that the Spirit’s journey is more relevant than the physical body’s journey when it comes to the development of psychiatric disorders. Children are born with some tendencies that increase or decrease the chances of them developing mental problems. But what happens in their lives may potentialize or dissipate those tendencies. A comprehensive study followed 13,000 children from birth until they became adults. Researchers found out that children who were more outgoing and eager for novelties were more likely to drink alcohol when they became teenagers. That means that each child is born with some features that may increase their chances of developing mental illness. But life circumstances and events also play a part. Another study monitors 1,266 children from when they were 13 or 14 until they were 26 or 27 and showed that those who were more impulsive and less committed to the school had a higher risk of developing an alcohol problem. In sum, children are born with some tendencies, but parents must look after them so that those tendencies can be addressed and redirected.

In which circumstances can children develop disorders in the current life without any necessary links with their behaviour in previous incarnations?

I believe that all that we suffer in the current life has some connection with the past. However, some mental disorders may develop because of organic alterations in the brain. Neurological illnesses caused by mental disorders are an example. It is also true that some children and teenagers will eventually develop mental disorders after taking drugs or going through traumatic experiences. We know, for example, that the major factors leading to the development of schizophrenia are the use of cannabis and exposure to violence or social isolation and social disparagement.

What can you say about autism in the light of Medicine and Spiritism?

There is a wide range of cases of autism. Some patients suffer from deep behavioural alterations. Others are like little geniuses, with peculiar social behaviour. For each case there must be a divine goal. I believe that in the case of the little geniuses we may be before Spirits fulfilling a mission on Earth, Spirits who asked to be born with their social faculties impaired so that they could dedicate fully to Science, technology, music and other arts.

Is there anything in particular that you would like to share from your experience?

I have seen many cases of young people who fail to find a goal in life, despite having had access to all comfort and protection. That situation is becoming unfortunately more common. I believe it is essential to awaken children to the meaning of their existence, getting them to embrace ideals that may give a meaning to their lives. Also, we must make a concerted effort not to provide them more protection than what they really need. By making their lives too easy, we are teaching indirectly selfishness and insensibility for the needs of other people.

What else would you like to add, from a Spiritist perspective?

I would like to address in particular the parents suffering for their children. I would like to ask them to continue being hopeful and being persistent. I urge those parents to overcome their prejudice and seek help from a psychiatrist. Medicine has developed a great deal and modern medication and therapy methods can bring about much relief.