Mental health and physical health are two aspects of health that are equally valuable; however, many parents are uncertain about how to broach the subject with their children. Regardless of your child’s particular mental health concern be it anxiety, stress, or trauma talking to him or her directly will be helpful. If you or your child requires help, looking for the best anxiety doctor near me or deciding on the necessity of outpatient PTSD treatment near me is one of the essential processes.
Here are ways to discuss mental health issues to children and young people :
1. Talking to Young Children (Ages 3-7)
For example, at this stage, kids may not differentiate different discrete emotions, but they are capable of expressing that something is ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
How to Explain Mental Health
✅ Input lower language: “Sometimes our heads are full of joy and at other times, they contain worry and fear.”
✔️ Teach children about emotions: Even fear is quite acceptable as addressing it makes it easy to handle.
✔️ Model problem solving: Dealing with daily stressors such as time management should be explained and demonstrated so that they learn how to manage the pressure.
How to Support Them
✅Create and foster dialogue: elicit from them “What made you happy/sad today?”
✔️ Ensure participation: They should be reassured that they are free to express themselves emotionally.
VERIFY THEIR FEELINGS: Make certain to avoid minimizing their concerns such as fear or anxiety.
2. Talking to School-Age Kids (Ages 8-12)
Children intellectually progress through understanding of emotions and while doing so, they may lack adequate words to convey the feeling.
How to Explain Mental Health
Help them to be able to connect with the concept by going for familiar examples: “We clean our bodies and wash it, similarly, we also need to clean the feelings.”
✔️ Address stress and anxiety : “It is okay to have stomach butterflies before a test but if it occurs frequently, there are remedies.”
These three methods of dealing with stress include writing ones feeling down, exercising and discussing with another person.
How to Support Them
Also, engage them to model good behaviors that depict how you handle stress in acceptable manners.
✔️ Support them regarding peer pressure: Guide them on how to handle friends and related issues.
✔️ Professional assistance: If they are still exhibiting signs of anxiety on regular basis, it is advisable to look for the best anxiety doctor near me.
3. Talking to Teens (Ages 13-18)
Adolescents are mostly faced with increased cases of pressure, peer pressure as well as stress from schoolwork. They may avoid discussing such issues and therefore, the setting must not be one that judges them for it.
How to Explain Mental Health
Be as straightforward and clear as possible: “Many people go through mental disorders, and it doesn’t mean that you are the only one.”
✔️ Affected response: Enable them to understand what anxiety, depression, or trauma are.
✔️Promoting self-identity: “What is your state when you are under pressures or depressed? “Okay, let’s discuss what can lift up the mood.”
How to Support Them
✔️ Let them speak but don’t leave them alone: It is a given that one should let the other person speak, but at the same time, the listener must be available for the conversation without dominating the conversation.
✔️ Seek professional assistance: In case they present symptoms of PTSD, help them search for outpatient PTSD treatment near them if they are.
✔️ Promote self care: Sleep that one gets, food that one eats and other leisure activities are also very essential in improving one’s Mental health.
4. How to Foster an Ongoing Conversation
There are two things you need to remember when discussing the mental health of children – this is a continuous conversation that changes over time.
✔️ Take time to embrace well-being: Be sure to check up on them without assuming that you need to ask how they are in a contemplative manner.
✔️ Reduce stereotype: Make them understand that it is not shameful to seek help .
✔️ Role model it: It is very important to model the behavior that one should accept his or her emotions, and it is natural to seek for help and support.
Final Thoughts
This article shows that it is important to discuss mental health to your kids as this enhances emotional security and cohesion. If it is a professional help that you require or if your child requires one, you can search ‘best anxiety doctor near me’ or ‘outpatient PTSD treatment near me’ to get the help from an expert. That is why you create an atmosphere that makes your child strong in order to succeed in his further life.
