The mental health epidemic is something that is fast sweeping across the United States and the rest of the world. Many of these signs start in childhood years, so it is important to help your child look after their mental wellbeing from an early age. Doing this can be tricky when you have so many other commitments to uphold, but it will do them immense good for the present and the future. If you are looking for some advice on how you can do this, it’s important to take note of some trusted ways in which you can teach your child about mental health.
Always make time to listen
As a parent, it can feel impossible to split your time between one commitment and the next, which can make sparing the time to listen even harder. Luckily, even when you are busy, you can show your child that you are still there for them. Giving them a diary to pour their emotions into, or always being on call is something that they will appreciate. Doing this will show them the importance of building a solid support network, and tell them that it is more than okay to talk about internal struggles.
Talk openly about mental health
Mental health is something that has always been a taboo subject. However, it is slowly but surely becoming destigmatized. One of the best places this stigma can be ended is in the home. If you talk openly about mental wellbeing, your child will feel less shame if they ever encounter any issues. Although certain topics in this area may be unsuitable for young children to hear, older children and teenagers should be no stranger to the dangers of bad self-care.
Encourage their passions
When your child is feeling down, what has the potential to cheer them up the most is their passions. Many children grow up loving reading, music, or sports, so you can create a care box around these passions to include some thoughtful gifts and exciting experiences. Going online to sites like ticketsales.com will help you find the concert tickets you need if your child has a love of music while buying some classic adventure books is the perfect gift for a child who loves to read. Such books can sometimes help them find ways to deal with the hardships they may be facing.
Practice a healthy lifestyle
A lot of how you treat your body can affect your mind. There is no exception when it comes to eating healthily and having a regular exercise routine. Although practicing this kind of lifestyle won’t cure anything, it can help make episodes of anxiety and depression less severe. Exercise can also be a healthy outlet for difficult emotions. Cooking healthy meals together and going on long walks as a family will help your children see exercise and eating well in a healthy way. You should also stress that indulging in their favorite snack sometimes is a truly positive thing. In some cases, doing this can even be a preventative measure for eating disorders that are developed by some children in their teenage years.
