Mental health is a critical aspect of our overall well-being. However, kids and teenagers aren’t often taught about mental health as part of their education.

A great part of this responsibility lies with parents, who need to create an open and honest environment at home. Unfortunately, the majority of parents avoid mental health talk with kids.

Mental Health Concerns for Kids

Depression, anxiety, and stress are just a few of the mental health issues that affect many kids today. Kids can be affected by mental health problems just like adults.

Mental health issues can affect a child’s thinking, behaviour, and ability to function in their daily lives. When left undiagnosed and untreated, mental health issues can lead to serious problems and even suicide.

Kids may have a hard time talking about what they are feeling. For this reason, it is incredibly important for parents to be open and talk about mental health with their children.

In order to do this, it is important for parents to feel comfortable talking about mental health themselves.

Stigma Around Mental Health

Despite mental health becoming less taboo, there still exists a pervasive stigma around it. This stigma makes it difficult for kids and parents alike to talk about mental health, view it as an important health issue and openly discuss it.

Many parents avoid the topic of mental health entirely because they are uncomfortable discussing it.

Others may feel that talking about mental health will make the issue “real,” and thus avoid discussing it out of fear of the potential consequences.

Stigma is a major barrier in addressing mental health. By treating mental health as an “out of sight, out of mind” issue, we are ignoring its importance and disenfranchising those who suffer from it.

Why Avoiding Mental Health Talk is Problematic

Parents who avoid discussing mental health with their kids are doing them a disservice.

Without proper awareness of mental health issues, kids may struggle with their own feelings, struggle recognizing and supporting others who may be dealing with mental health issues. They may also not be able to seek help when they are struggling themselves.

Young people need to know that there is no shame in experiencing mental health issues and asking for help. As a parent, it is our responsibility to encourage an open and honest environment in the home, that includes talking about mental health.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Early intervention is critical for the wellbeing of those suffering from mental health issues. This is particularly important for kids as early intervention can offer the strategies and coping mechanisms needed.

A significant proportion of mental health issues in adulthood began in childhood or adolescence.

By creating a safe and welcoming environment where kids can talk about their struggles, parents can help their kids put in place healthy coping mechanisms needed for good mental health throughout their lives.

How to Start the Mental Health Conversation

As parents, it’s important to role model healthy conversations around mental health. Here are some steps to get started:.

Get Educated

As with any subject, getting educated about mental health is important for being able to talk about it. You can start by reading a few books or articles related to mental health or taking online courses.

Be Comfortable

The conversation will be easier if you approach it in a calm and comfortable manner. Being calm and relaxed will put both you and your child at ease.

Create a Safe Space

Make sure your child knows that they can talk to you without judgment about anything affecting their lives. Let them know that you care about their wellbeing and that talking about their feelings is healthy.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

When you ask open-ended questions, you allow your child to answer in their way and guide the conversation. Encourage your child to talk about their thoughts and feelings. Listen attentively and empathetically.

Normalize it

Use positive language when discussing mental health. Normalize mental health so your child understands that it is part of being human and nothing to be ashamed of.

In Conclusion

Mental health is an important topic, and it’s up to us as parents to ensure that our children are educated, informed and feel comfortable discussing it.

By creating a safe space where our children feel free to talk about their thoughts and feelings, we can help them to develop the coping mechanisms needed and lay the foundation for good mental health throughout their lives.