Most of us know an adult friend who struggles with their mental health, in fact most of us probably know quite a few and many of us will struggle ourselves. The great thin is that it is now OK to talk about it and more and more people are seeking help and learning to understand why they have problems and moving past them. However, are we thinking seriously about why we are all struggling? Of course, we are talking about childhood and other things with friends and in therapy or counselling sessions, but have we taken that and thought about our children and those of others around us?
Our Mental Health is Their Mental Health
There is a really sad fact that all parents and carers need to face…our problems, our traits, our little idiosyncrasies all have an effect on the children around us. While we may make light of our obsession about cleaning the bathroom or leaving o time for school if we ever get angry or stressed about things it will get passed on. It may not show itself in the same way but parents with anxiety will be having an effect on their kids. This is really not meant to make everyone feel bad, the important thing is to try to address our grown-up issues before they become an issue for our wonderful children. There is also some evidence to suggest that some mental health issues can be genetic so its even more important to be aware of them and address them.
Mentally Healthy Now is Mentally Healthy Later
In many families the parental traits will have already had an effect on the young people in the house but that is not the end of the world! The key is to take children’s mental health seriously and create a space where talking and being open is normal. By promoting mental well being in children we are heading off problems in later life. While we should not be overwhelming kids with mental health this and mental health that we can still make growing up very different to what it was 30 years ago and that’s a big deal!
Tools to Cope
Giving kids the tools to cope with modern life can also make a huge difference. Sites offering mental health support for young people like Hidden Strength who also have an online therapy app make a great place for kids. They will feel all the things we did when we were young but they can find answers where we may not have done. Also, by being parents that listen and understand anxiety, depression and more we can help prevent these things growing into serious adult issues.
If needed there are many options for residential treatment for teens that offer safe and nurturing environments where they can thrive and heal. It is crucial to encourage young people to seek help and support when they need it, rather than trying to hide or ignore their struggles. This can be done by normalizing conversations about mental health and providing access to resources and professional help.
When looking for the right support for a young person, it’s important to consider their unique needs and circumstances. Choosing an appropriate teen mental health treatment program can provide the guidance and environment necessary for long-term recovery. This careful selection process can make a lasting difference in a young person’s well-being and future.
Too Much Too Young?
There is certainly a reason to be careful here. While its great we are talking about this stuff so much we also don’t want to create problems where there aren’t any. The key is to create an environment where boys can cry, where its OK to be scared, nervous, sad and angry. But we do not have to give all these things names. Being sad is easier for a child to understand than to talk about depression. It can be all too easy to exercise our newfound answers from therapy with our kids and make everything far to serious. While we are liberated by finding out our parent’s anxiety was the reason, we hated school and are too frightened to make new friends we must avoid explicitly talking about it to young children. Instead use general terms they understand and make sure they know its OK to feel and express themselves.
Happy and Healthy Adults
While our children may still face many challenges in their lives and may develop a mental health issue regardless of our behaviour it makes sense that our health and happiness is important. So just like the safety video on a flight…do your own oxygen mask before your children’s! Because once you can breathe properly you are able to help those around you and by helping your kids be mentally healthy now and not being mentally unhealthy yourself you are setting them up well for the future.