How to Help Teens Open Up About Their Mental Health
You know from your teen years that they’re not easy. Teens have to navigate attending new schools with new classes, teachers, and classmates. They have to deal with bodily transformations like acne, vocal changes, body hair, and height and weight fluctuations. Teens also have to find a balance with their increased schoolwork, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and friend groups.
You want your teen to feel comfortable opening up to you no matter what, but the teen years also bring on changes in their mood and how they feel towards their parents. You know your teen is going through the stage where they want to try to be independent and don’t want their parents to be there every step of the way, but you also don’t want to be so far removed that they feel like they have no one to turn to.
This is how to help teens open up about their mental health.
Openly Talk About Mental Health
Creating a safe space at home is a great first step towards encouraging your teen to open up about their mental health. You can create a safe and secure space for them by communicating with them about the things going on in their life. They’ll be more willing to open up if you listen without any judgment or repercussions.
If you’re getting short answers to questions that you’re asking about their life, try asking open-ended questions so that they can share a bit more. When your teen does open up, make sure you’re not dismissing how they’re feeling or trying to solve their problems for them. Sometimes they just need you to be there for them, listen to them, and validate their emotions.
Implement Healthy Habits
The teen years are crucial for healthy growth and brain development. Educate your teen about the importance of caring for themselves from the inside out by fueling their bodies properly. Try to get your teen involved with creating a shopping list, grocery shopping, and meal prepping. Make sure they’re making smart choices regarding their meals and snack selections. They should be fueling their body with protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. How they fuel their body should also include their sleeping habits.
Encourage them to aim for at least eight hours of sleep each night. Try to get them to go to bed around the same time each night and wake up around the same time each morning to stay on a good schedule and routine. This can also help to reduce any late-night social media usage or scrolling.
Teach Them About Healthy Boundaries
Teaching your teen about boundaries can help them implement them in their life earlier to help improve their overall mental health and wellness in multiple areas in their life. Teach them about the importance of setting healthy boundaries for getting their homework done, making sure they’re getting enough sleep, their social media usage, and even hanging out with family or friends. Encourage them to say “no” to the activities they actually don’t want to be doing. Let them know that it’s okay and even encourage them to put themselves and their wants and needs first.
Seek Additional Support
Talk to your teen about reaching out for additional support. Let them know that reaching out for help when they need it isn’t a sign of weakness, but actually a sign of strength. Working with a licensed and trained mental health professional may be exactly what your teen needs to help them open up about their mental health.
A therapist will be able to work with your teen to help them find the root cause of how they’re feeling and teach them methods to better manage those various signs and symptoms. If you would like to learn more about teen therapy options for your teen, feel free to reach out today.