Talking To Your Child About Mental Health is a collaborative post.

Talking to your child about mental health isn’t always the easiest thing to do, and it’s highly likely there are plenty of other conversations you’d rather be having, especially as it’s such a sensitive topic, but although it’s daunting, it’s also really important. 

And the truth is, it doesn’t have to be a heavy or awkward conversation – in fact, the earlier we have these chats and make them a normal part of everyday life, the better. After all, mental health is part of life just like physical health is, and children, it turns out, are often more open to these discussions than we might think. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more. 

Start Where They Are

You don’t need to wait for a specific moment to bring up mental health – it can be as simple as checking their mood after school, asking what made them happy or frustrated that day, or gently talking through a meltdown once everyone’s calmed down. 

The point is, it’s about giving them the words and space they need to be able to describe what they’re feeling, and that’s especially useful for younger children who might find it hard to let you know exactly how they’re feeling. Older kids might pretend they’re fine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still help if you know something’s wrong – even if it doesn’t seem like they’re listening, they probably are. 

Be Honest And Age-Appropriate

It’s really important to know that it’s okay not to have all the answers, and in fact, admitting you don’t know sometimes or that you also feel anxious or overwhelmed as well can help your child understand that big emotions are totally normal – and that they’re manageable. They don’t need to understand how the brain works to know that, so don’t worry about all the details, just be honest, kind, and loving, and that’s going to be enough. 

If your child has specific struggles, whether that’s anxiety, low mood, or problems concentrating, for example, then you might be having different conversations – ones that involve treatment, for example. Recently, there’s been a lot more talk about natural and alternative therapies, including cannabis for ADHD in the UK, and that’s a big topic. Remember, though, that your older children can find out things for themselves online, so understanding the pros and cons and being able to have a proper discussion about therapies is crucial. 

Keep The Dialogue Going 

One conversation isn’t going to be able to cover everything, and that’s fine – it doesn’t have to, and if you try to squeeze everything in, it’s just going to get confusing and it’s not going to be all that helpful. The goal isn’t actually to have a perfect chat – it’s just to build trust so that when your child is having a bad time, they’ll know they can come to you for help and guidance. 

That’s why you need to ask questions and actually listen to the answers, and even share stories if it feels like you should. Sometimes they’ll talk a lot and sometimes they’ll be completely quiet, but you’ve got to keep going anyway.