As a parent, it can be difficult to take a back seat while your child is struggling. Support your teen or tween’s mental health by encouraging…

  1. Open Communication: Encourage your teenager to talk about their thoughts and feelings openly and honestly, and provide a safe and supportive environment for them to do so.
  2. Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Help your teenager to identify healthy ways to cope with stress, such as exercising, meditating, or journaling.
  3. A Healthy Lifestyle: Encourage your teenager to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.
  4. Limits on Screen Time: Encourage your teenager to limit their screen time and to engage in other activities, such as reading, playing sports, or spending time with friends.
  5. Involvement in Extracurricular Activities: Encourage your teenager to get involved in extracurricular activities that they are interested in, such as sports teams, clubs, or community service projects.
  6. A Sense of Purpose: Help your teenager to identify their passions and interests, and to find ways to pursue these in a meaningful way.
  7. Help When Needed: If your teenager is struggling with mental health issues, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional. Help to destigmatize mental health and to encourage your teenager to seek, in partnership with you, the help they need.

The key is to encourage your child to take these approaches through a two-way dialogue. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out.