Mental health is often a taboo subject, despite being something that affects us all. The conversation can be difficult to start as feelings aren’t the easiest to talk about, however, it is one that should be had.
It concerns a person’s psychological and emotional well-being, which is just as important as one’s physical health. Unlike the latter, it can be difficult to recognise the signs and therefore support children. In this post, we explore the theme of mental health and how you can help your child with theirs.
This post is in collaboration with a girls’ school in London.
A Bit of Context
Mental health is something that’s hard to pick up on as a parent. The symptoms may be mild for some while severe and debilitating for others. It can be likened to a spectrum as they can change day to day for an individual.
How to Support Your Child with Their Mental Health
The first step is to start the conversation. Talk to your child about how they feel within themselves, and how they are finding school and life in general. If there are any problems that they are having, look at ways that you can work through them together.
It’s important that children feel comfortable talking about what they’re going through so that you can be there to offer support and get them the help that they need. Just by simply being someone that they can talk to, you can be more helpful than you realise.
Seeking Help
If your child isn’t acting like their usual self or you suspect that something’s off, it’s a good idea to speak to a professional such as your GP or a children’s councillor who will be able to assess their symptoms and provide an accurate diagnosis.
While there may be a long waiting list with the NHS, there is lots of help available to help children with their mental health such as counselling, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which teaches children coping strategies to deal with their mental health day to day and medication.
Self-Care
The act of self-care is something which makes us feel good about ourselves and takes us into our happy place. This can help to relieve stress and anxiety. Learn what your child’s is and how you can help them to practise self-care.
These are just a few parenting tips that we’ve put together. If you’re concerned about your child, we highly recommend seeking help and advice from a professional.