Maybe you’ve been worried about your teen lately. They might be falling behind in school, spending less time with their friends, or losing interest in their hobbies. Alternatively, they might be pushing themselves so hard to succeed that you’re concerned they’re on the verge of burnout. They may be pulling all-nighters to study or becoming increasingly anxious about their grades.
You want to talk to your teen about their mental health. Without having these conversations, you won’t be able to figure out how you can best support them, or if you should help connect them with a therapist. If you’re not sure where to begin, here a few recommendations.
Normalize the Idea of Talking About Mental Health
By removing the stigma around talking about mental health in your own household, you make it easier for your teen to share how they’re feeling. Be mindful of how you talk about mental health, therapy, and vulnerability. If your teen gets the idea that you think anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions are not serious, or that you view mental illness as a personal weakness, they will try to hide their feelings from you.
It’s okay to talk about times when you’ve felt depressed, anxious, or burnt out. If you’ve ever sought therapy or another form of mental health support in the past, you may want to share this, too.
Don’t Push Your Teen
It can be tempting to push your teen to open up about their mental health. However, doing so can easily backfire. If your teen gets the sense that you’re forcing the conversation, they might shut down rather than share their feelings. Instead, wait until your teen is receptive to talking about their mental health. If they indicate that they’re not ready to talk about it, you can return to the topic at another time.
Bond Over Shared Activities
By taking up shared activities with your teen, you’ll create opportunities to talk about mental health in an environment that feels safe and non-judgmental. Maybe you and your teen enjoy going camping or hiking, watching movies together, or playing a certain sport. Finding a pastime you both love can bring you closer, making your teen feel more comfortable being authentic and vulnerable. Plus, spending extra time together will simply give you more chances to talk.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
If your teen is receptive to a conversation about mental health, how should you approach it? Try to lead with open-ended questions when possible. For example, it might be easy to ask, “Have you been feeling anxious lately?”, to which your teen might answer “yes” or “no.” But asking “yes” or “no” questions can end the conversation prematurely.
Instead, ask your teen questions that actually invite them to share what they’re feeling. Give them a chance to speak, and don’t be afraid of silent pauses. Silence does not have to be awkward between family.
Keep Your Own Emotions in Check
When your teen talks about going through a difficult time, it’s natural to feel sad on their behalf. If they’ve been hurt by someone in their life, you may even feel angry. But it’s crucial to keep these emotions in check while talking with your teen. If they see that sharing their feelings makes you upset or angry, they might feel like they’ve done something wrong, and they may refrain from talking about their mental health in the future.
Are you concerned about your teen’s mental health? They might be open to working with a therapist. Connect With Us via phone, email, or our contact form to learn more about our teen counseling services.