It’s been a rough couple of years for all of us, but it’s been particularly challenging for our children.
Kids are hitting their teenage years under the shadow of a global pandemic, where social distancing and virtual learning have become the norm.
These hardships have brought one thing into stark relief — the fact that we need to take care of our mental health.
That doesn’t just apply to adults. Children and teens, especially those growing up during these unprecedented times, need help just as their parents do.
What can you do to help support your teen’s mental health?
1. Educate Yourself
We’ve come a long way in the last decade of our understanding of different mental illnesses and how they can impact our lives, but there is still so much to learn.
Additionally, how a mental health diagnosis such as anxiety or depression affects you as an adult may be substantially different from how it impacts a teenager, who is also dealing with swiftly shifting hormones and social pressures.
Take the time to educate yourself on common mental illnesses and their signs and symptoms.
It’s always better if your teen is willing to come to you for help, but they may be unwilling to start that conversation, at least initially.
Understanding the indicators to look for can help you support their mental health by recognizing when they struggle.
2. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Okay, I get it. There’s nothing worse than struggling with a mental illness only to have some sunshiny influencer pop off with something stupid like, “Have you tried yoga?” That’s not what I’m here to do, but there is some science behind it.
It might sound like the sort of pyramid scheme crap that you see on social media all the time, but a healthy lifestyle can help improve your teen’s mental health — and yours as well.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maintaining a healthy lifestyle — including regular exercise and a healthy diet — can help to foster positive mental and physical health.
They also specify that this includes refraining from smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, but that shouldn’t be a problem for teenagers.
3. Overcome the Stigma
There is a massive negative stigma that surrounds mental health and mental illness.
It was something that we didn’t talk about for a long time, and while that perception has started to change, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Eventually, talking about your mental health should be as common as getting the flu shot or getting your annual checkup.
Teenagers should be getting regular mental health screenings, but it’s more likely that they’ll open up to a therapist or doctor if they aren’t ashamed of talking about their mental health.
Start the conversation. Work to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.
This step can be as simple as offering to let your teen take a mental health day when they’re having a rough time. All you need to do is start talking.
4. Learn Coping Mechanisms Together
Teens aren’t the only ones who might be struggling with their mental health, especially during the last couple of years.
One study found that more than half of those surveyed reported that their mental health was fair or poor and 44% stated that their mental health had declined since the pandemic began.
It’s been rough. Along with professional treatment, coping mechanisms can help us manage these stressors and take care of our mental health.
Look into new coping mechanisms, or strengthen your existing ones, together.
Everyone’s coping mechanisms are different, but you may find that your tools overlap with theirs, or vice versa.
This technique makes it easier for you to recognize when they might need to take a step back and utilize one of those tools.
5. Take Care Of Yourself
You can’t pour from an empty cup. It sounds trite, but if you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not going to have the energy to care for anyone else.
Take a step back. Where are you neglecting yourself in favor of taking care of others?
Where are you skipping self-care in favor of taking on yet another responsibility that doesn’t need to be yours?
Take some time for yourself. Pour yourself a glass of wine and have a bubble bath. Read some of your favorite books, or get a manicure. Take some time for your hobby.
Self-care means something different to everyone, but one thing is always the same — take some time to put yourself first.
You’ll find it makes a world of difference, both in how you feel and how well you can take care of those around you.
Looking Forward
Raising a teenager is never easy, but raising one through the beginning of the 2020s makes it even harder.
Your teens may need some extra support, especially regarding mental health. Try these tips, or share a few of your own.
Parenthood is one of the most rewarding things you can do, but it’s also one of the hardest.
Go easy on yourself and do whatever you need to do to support your teens and their mental health — even and especially if that means taking some time for yourself.