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How to talk to teenagers about mental health
Mental health is an important facet of today’s times. Talking to teenagers and making them aware of the dangers of isolation and negative thoughts is a necessity.
Stress has become a common phenomenon among teenagers nowadays. From school transition to peer pressure and hormonal changes, several factors can lead to isolation or lack of communication during adolescence. Since they aren’t able to articulate their thoughts into words, they seldom suffer alone. To help protect their mental well-being, it is necessary to start a conversation with your teenage children even though they may not show interest in the beginning.
Identifying the symptoms and opening a channel of communication is one of the major steps towards establishing a bond with them and helping them deal with mental disorders. “Sensitization of teenagers about mental health and hygiene is essential to enable them to develop resilience and face any situation or stress in life,” Dr Kedar Tilwe, Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Health Care says.
He also doles out a few tips to help bring about a positive change in the environment.
1. Keep the language simple. You don't want a misunderstanding.
2. Don’t be embarrassed about discussing it yourself.
3. Use examples whenever possible to facilitate the conversation. For example, consider using the experiences of idols or celebrities who have been brave enough to voice their experience in public.
4. Assure your child that you shall be lifelong support and will be their safe harbour whenever required.
5. Topics that can be discussed include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, etc.
6. You also need to emphasise upon the importance of stressbusters in addition to the “birds and bees” talk.
7. Bullying and risks of unfiltered social media use should also form a part of the discussion.
Tell stories and open up about your experience before asking them about theirs. Once you start talking about your mental health, it’s important to set some boundaries. The most important thing, however, is to remain non-judgemental and actively listen to what they have to say.
