Many teens struggle with mental health issues: Here are tips for parents.
By Jenny Taitz for The Washington Post
As a clinical psychologist, I often find myself sitting across from college students struggling with challenges such as anxiety and suicidality, who confide that their parents don’t get it. Not surprisingly, I also work with parents of young adults who want to help their children but can’t seem to connect. It can be disheartening that people who matter deeply to each other misread cues at critical emotional junctures, but part of what I teach parents is how to help their teens feel heard and supported so they can move forward.
I’ve seen even the most well-meaning parent panic when their child is struggling with mental health issues, then inadvertently say the wrong thing such as, “you’re overreacting.” Sometimes they offer children too much space, assuming their teenager will come to them with a problem. But there are effective ways to empower your adolescent, including working on managing your own emotions, asking the right questions and helping to determine the level of support they need.
Here are some of Taitz’s suggestions:
Practice being kind and nonjudgmental
Don’t be a “snowplow parent”
Give them hope
Ask about self-harm thoughts
Lean on research-based approaches
For her full description of each suggestion visit the article here.