Mental Health Awareness Month: Talking to Your Teen About Mental Health
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues and advocating for support and resources for those who need it. This annual observance serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental well-being and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. During this month, individuals and organizations come together to educate, support, and empower those affected by mental health challenges.
Adolescence is seen as a time of establishing identity - figuring out who you are. Unfortunately, adolescence is also a time that mental health concerns can start developing, or really show up if they’ve already been festering in their pre-teen years. According to recent studies, approximately one in five adolescents experience a mental health disorder each year, ranging from anxiety and depression to more severe conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Additionally, 50% of folx with a diagnosed mental condition began exhibiting symptoms at 14.
It’s important for parents to have open and honest conversations with their teens about mental health concerns in order to receive treatment if needed. Untreated mental health conditions can have far-reaching consequences on various aspects of a teenager's life. Academically, struggling with mental health issues can lead to decreased concentration, motivation, and academic performance. In addition to academic challenges, untreated mental health conditions can strain relationships with family, friends, and peers, often leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Clearly, early intervention and support is crucial in addressing these issues and promoting positive mental health outcomes for teenagers.
As a parent, how can you talk to your teens about the importance of mental health? Read on below for tips from My Time Counseling!
Tip #1: Create a Safe Space for Sharing
Teens experiencing mental health issues can have a variety of reasons for not disclosing this to their parents - fear of repercussions, feeling their parents wouldn’t understand, or the worry that their parents will commit them to a hospital. Try the following to foster a safe space for teens to feel comfortable sharing:
Do the work to build trust: Building trust and rapport with your teen is crucial, ensuring they feel comfortable confiding in you without fear of judgment. Choosing a private and distraction-free setting for conversations about mental health creates a space where your teen can speak openly and honestly.
Show unconditional acceptance: Reassure your teen that you are there for them unconditionally, emphasizing your willingness to support and listen to them, no matter what challenges they may be facing.
Set ground rules: Establish clear boundaries and confidentiality agreements with your teen, assuring them that their privacy will be respected and that sensitive discussions will remain confidential within reason. Let your teen know if they plan to hurt themselves or someone else, it’s time to call a mobile crisis team, but their feelings are safe with you.
Tip #2: Start the Conversation Yourself
Our kids learn from us - how we speak about ourselves and our own struggles directly influences how teens will frame their thoughts. To model vulnerability with mental health concerns, try:
Show genuine curiosity and compassion: Express your genuine concern for your teen's well-being and your willingness to listen to whatever they may want to share. Using open-ended questions allows your teen to share their thoughts and feelings at their own pace.
Let them know you relate: Share your own experiences with managing stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges in an age-appropriate manner, demonstrating that it's normal to talk about these issues. We certainly don’t mean trauma-dump on your child; however, sharing that you have felt anxious or depressed can be helpful in establishing normality.
Normalize seeking support: Encourage discussions about accessing mental health resources and support, such as therapy, support groups, or hotlines, and highlight the importance of reaching out for help when needed. This may look like helping them save the crisis line phone number (988) as a contact in their phone, hanging your local mobile crisis number on your fridge, or even talking about attending therapy yourself.
Tip #3: Make Therapy Accessible for Them
Many teens may need some encouragement to ask to attend therapy. Teens may feel more comfortable asking if therapy has already been presented as an accessible option. To increase the accessibility of therapy, try:
Help your teen look for a therapist: Collaborate with your teen to research different therapy options, including in-person counseling, online therapy platforms, or support groups, to find a format that suits their preferences and needs. If you pick out some potential therapists before mental health concerns arise, teens may feel more prepared and like they have more resources to use.
Prove to your teen that mental health is a priority: Be flexible and accommodating with scheduling to accommodate your teen's school, extracurricular, and social commitments, making it easier for them to prioritize their mental health. Really ask yourself if them being on the high school soccer team is more important than their ability to work through emotional concerns with a therapist.
Let their sessions be private: Ensure confidentiality and privacy regarding your teen's therapy sessions, refraining from prying or sharing details without their consent to foster trust and openness in the therapeutic relationship. Allow them to take steps to secure their privacy, such as having online sessions alone in the parked car or providing resources like headphones so nobody can overhear their conversations.
In conclusion, you can encourage your teen to reach out for help with their mental health concerns if you create a safe space, model the conversational skills first, and prove that therapy is accessible for them. If you need to talk to someone, we’re here for you. At My Time Counseling, we specialize in counseling for teens. Reach out to us today to see what we’re about!