Being careful and considerate when addressing mental health issues is important to making your youth feel comfortable. As mental health awareness becomes more supported, it’s helpful for parents and guardians to create a loving and open space to discuss mental health challenges. This lays out strategies for parents and guardians to navigate mental health talks with their children, emphasizing the role of communication and active listening.
The Importance of Communication
Communication sets the tone for understanding mental health. Recognizing the value of starting age-appropriate conversations can create understanding and empathy. Starting these conversations early in a child’s development allows open communication, ensuring that children have the skills necessary to express their emotions. This approach creates a sense of security and trust, encouraging children to open up and talk to their parents or guardians when they are struggling.
Understanding Mental Health
It’s important for children and their parents or guardians to have conversations around mental health. Having more conversations can normalize the concept that a child seeking help or addressing emotional challenges is a sign of strength rather than weakness. This is important in fostering a culture where children feel comfortable seeking assistance for their mental well-being.
Active Listening is Support
An important part of having positive mental health conversations with children is active listening. Paying attention not only to the words spoken but also to the emotions and concerns underlying them shows support and care. Through active listening, parents and guardians show their commitment to understanding their child’s perspective and needs, improving the child’s self-esteem. The act of listening, without judgment or immediate solutions, further encourages the child to express their feelings in a safe space.
Discussions Around Developmental Stages
While navigating mental health discussions, understanding the developmental stages of a child is important. Conversations should address the child’s mental and emotional maturity. Younger children may require simplified explanations using words they understand, while older youth might engage in deeper discussions around their feelings and emotions. Talking to children using words they understand supports them in managing their feelings. Being able to talk to children and having those conversations helps them feel heard and understood.
Finding Supportive Resources
Parents and guardians can use supportive mental health resources to start difficult conversations. Books, videos, and age-appropriate online content on mental health can serve as helpful tools for communicating with children. Resources are not limited to books or online information, and reaching out to trusted friends, family, and neighbors’ helps build community. These resources can help parents and guardians talk about difficult subjects.
Encouraging Well-Being
Mental health talks can also help children better understand their feelings. Parents, guardians, friends, and neighbors can help children identify their emotions, talk about their feelings, and develop skills to manage stress and anxiety.
Promoting Healthy Practices
Parents and guardians are important role models in their child’s life. Managing stress is important for children to see. Seeking help when needed and taking care of oneself are important ways for adults to show children how to manage day-to-day challenges. When children see parents and guardians using self-care, valuing their own well-being and seeking help when necessary, they are more likely to practice similar behavior.
Patience is Key
Conversations require open communication, active listening, and open discussions to model healthy practices. This helps parents and guardians build emotional strength in their children, giving them the tools they need to support their mental health. By creating an environment where mental health conversations are approached with sensitivity and empathy, parents and guardians will be able to build a healthy foundation for their children. Talking to your children when it comes to their mental health and their well-being can be difficult. Connected Families NH provides a supportive community option for you and your family.
About Connected Families NH
Connected Families NH works to improve the emotional health of children and young adults. We recognize the importance of emotional health and provide care coordination services and support through our regional and statewide programs. Reach out or submit a referral to learn more about how Connected Families NH can help you and your family. Connected Families NH is under the governance of Cheshire County. Connected Families NH is not an emergency service. If you or someone you care about is having a mental health or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained care staff at the NH Rapid Response Access Point at 833-710-6477 or 988 or NH988.com.
