While there are some discussions you can wait to have until your children are older, mental health is worth talking about now. Stress, anxiety, and fear are normal and affect people of all ages, and approaching mental illness as a taboo subject only stigmatizes it. Even so, talking about mental health or emotional wellbeing can be challenging – especially if it has not been modeled in our own lives.
As a parent, one of the best things you can do is to give your kids a safe space to express their feelings. This Pacific Prime China covers how to talk to your child about their mental health so you can get the conversation going at home.
Why it’s important to talk to your children about what they’re feeling
An integral part of overall health, mental health is something that should be freely talked about in all households. When we think about children and stressors in life, we often think about big challenges. However, they experience small challenges like disappointment and worry more often than we might realize.
Coping mechanisms aren’t just something a child wakes up with one day. In fact, childhood and adolescence are imperative stages for developing resilience. Events such as the ongoing pandemic can be tough for children to handle, especially when it affects two of the biggest parts of their lives: school and socializing.
Anxiety and depression have increased in children and adults alike during the pandemic, along with suicidality in children and adolescents. But mental illness in children has been around before the pandemic, with anxiety affecting around 5.8 million children in the US between the ages of 3 and 17, depression affecting around 2.7 million, and behavioral problems around 5.5 million.
It’s never too early to start the conversation
There’s no better time than now for parents to open the doors for discussions surrounding mental health with their children. The earlier and more often you talk about mental health with your children, the easier it will be to have open communication as things get more complex down the line. It also reduces mental health stigma. Once the stigma of mental health is gone, mental illness can be approached in the same way as physical illness.
Tips for talking to your child about mental health
Talking to your kids about mental health topics might sound like a good idea, but can be hard to approach when the time comes. Not sure where to start? The following tips can help you get a healthy conversation going.
Help them build their emotional vocabulary
A crucial part of raising an emotionally intelligent child is giving them the vocabulary to identify their emotions. This can start from an early age with the help of children’s books covering such topics. Similarly, you can talk about certain situations and what emotions came up for you to let them know that sharing feelings is a good thing to do.
However you choose to help them identify what they’re feeling, the overall message should be that mental health is as important as physical health. You can have discussions over dinner, while getting ready for bed, during family time, or whenever works. Find ways to bring mental health into everyday conversations so that talking about one’s thoughts and feelings becomes second nature.
Practice simple and straightforward communication
Discussions surrounding mental health often aren’t the easiest to have, especially as a concerned parent. It’s important to realize that you won’t make matters worse by showing your concern. However, you must also remember that you’re not diagnosing your child.
Focus on keeping your message simple and straightforward. You can calmly express that you’re concerned about certain behaviors and want to support them. Also, consider your child’s age and developmental stage to ensure your discussion is appropriate.
Really listen to what they’re saying
As much as you want to talk or compare your experiences, the key to having good conversations with your child is to listen and allow them to feel heard. You want to ensure they’re comfortable and ready to open up too. Once you’ve chosen a comfortable place to talk where you won’t be disturbed, say what you have to say (in a simple and straightforward way). Then reassure them that it’s okay to say what they’re thinking and feeling or ask questions.
Be sure to pay attention to their responses too. If they are noticeably upset or irritated, it’s time to slow down or even stop talking about it for the time being. After all, the goal is for them to feel heard and understood, not pressured or invalidated.
Encourage questions
Perhaps the easiest way to start talking about mental health with your child is to ask them simple questions. “How are you feeling?” and “How can I help you feel better?” are examples of questions that parents and caregivers can ask. Conversely, be prepared to answer any questions they have for you – as children often have plenty.
They might ask questions to find out more about what they’re feeling or what solutions are available. Answer what you can and say you don’t know the answer when you don’t. From there, you can find the answer for them or reach out to someone who can help.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Just like you’re not expected to know the answer to every question, you also won’t know how to handle every situation. And that’s okay. It simply means you need additional support. For example, you may be concerned about your teen’s behavior but can’t get them to talk. That’s what counselors and doctors are there for.
If you feel like you’re out of options and your child’s behavior has been going on for weeks or is affecting their daily life, it’s a good idea to seek expert help.
Put your family’s health first with Pacific Prime China
There’s no better time than the present to start talking about mental health with your children. Instead of waiting for an issue to bring it up, begin regular discussions from a young age to tackle complex topics with ease later on. Remember that talking about mental health should be as easy and straightforward as talking about physical health and to remain open and supportive when discussing either.
Speaking of health, nothing gives a parent peace of mind like securing health insurance for their loved ones. Having a family health insurance plan in China ensures that your family can get the quality care they deserve whenever they need it. Whether you’re looking for health insurance in China for foreigners or globally, Pacific Prime China is here to help.
Contact us for a tailored plan comparison according to your needs and budget or impartial insurance advice today!
Disclaimer: Pacific Prime China solely represents, operates and manages locally regulated insurance products and services in the territory of PR China. Any references to Pacific Prime Global Company or Group, the international services, insurance products or otherwise stated written or verbally, is for introduction purposes about our overseas network only as each entity is fully independent.
