Maybe you’re concerned that you don’t talk to your child about mental health often enough. As they grow up, you want to make sure you’re giving them the support they need when it comes to coping with complicated emotions.
However, you don’t want to overwhelm them with these conversations. Or perhaps you suspect that your child is actively struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition. Yet you’re unsure of how to approach them about this. You may even fear that if you try to talk to your child about their mental health, they’ll become even more guarded out of embarrassment or shame.
There’s no doubt that talking to your child about mental health can be tricky. Here are a few suggestions that can help you open up conversations about mental health with your child while respecting their space.
Read Up on Symptoms of Mental Health Conditions
First, it helps to educate yourself on specific signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions. It’s important to understand how depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other conditions can manifest in children.
The symptoms can differ from adults who are dealing with the same issues. With this information, you’ll be better prepared to help your child. When it comes to talking about mental health, knowledge is power.
Be Observant
What if you’re not explicitly talking about mental health with your child? Actively listening when they share details about their friends, what’s going on at school, or anything else in their life can still clue you in on what might be going on beneath the surface.
You may not have to ask your child directly about their mental health to get an idea of how they’re really feeling and whether or not you should be concerned.
Check in Every Once in a While
Simply listening to your child is often enough to figure out how they’re doing. But it doesn’t hurt to check in about their mental health once in a while. You don’t have to use terms like “anxiety” or “depression” when you ask these questions. Your child might have an easier time understanding what you mean when you use terms like “nervous” or “sad.”
When you do check in with your child, make sure to choose a time and place when you’ll have privacy to talk. What if your child is reluctant to talk? You might need to give them some space for the time being. Forcing the issue can cause them to shut down.
Encourage Open Communication
If your child feels comfortable opening up to you when they’re feeling low, you may not have to check in very often. Let your child know that they can talk to you about anything, no matter what. Show ongoing interest in your child’s life.
Make plenty of time to talk with them on an average day. This will make it easier to encourage open communication at any time.
Stick to Healthy Routines
Finally, sticking to healthy routines in your household can benefit your child’s mental health in a few ways. Ensuring that your child gets regular exercise, eats nutritious meals, follows a consistent sleep schedule, and spends limited time using screens are all critical components to better mental health.
Additionally, your family’s routines should include downtime together when you can bond and relax. The more time you spend having fun with your child, the more at ease they’ll feel when they want to open up about more difficult topics.
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If you’re worried about your child’s mental health, consider contacting our practice to find out more about our child counseling services or book your first appointment.