The pressures on young people have never been so high. From social media to schoolyard bullying to exam pressures, and even caring needs, more children and young people are suffering from poor mental health.
This Children’s Mental Health Week, Health Assured, the UK and Ireland’s largest independent Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider, says it’s never been more important to make our children’s well-being a priority.
Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at Health Assured, says “As adults, we all present our struggles in different ways. Where some may discuss things that are troubling us, others will close themselves off. And children are no different. Everyone has their way of dealing with their struggles and, with a lack of life experience to fall back on, struggling to understand why you’re feeling low can be especially difficult for children.
“Whether you’re a new parent or have older children, we’re all learning along the way. Children don’t come with instructions. Let’s be real – we don’t always have everything figured out ourselves, so being responsible for someone else’s wellbeing can be daunting. And, as the pressures of modern-day life increase, it can be easy to miss some common signs that your child may be struggling.
“Whether you’re 9 or 90 everyone can suffer from poor mental health. And what works for one person may not work for another, so there is no blanket approach to take. It’s important to tailor support to each individual person and condition.
“Despite our differences, there are things we all have in common. We all want our children to be happy and healthy, and at one time or another in our lives, we have all needed a sounding board. As parents, its our job to ensure that our children can talk to us about any issue, however big or small.
“It’s important to establish a trusting relationship. Children can be very perceptive, so create a home environment where the child feels safe and respected. Show that you care and normalise conversations about feelings. This will make it more likely that your child will approach you if they are struggling.
“If you notice something then speak about it but be careful how you approach the conversation. Leading with ‘What’s up with you?’ could have the opposite effect, with a child distancing themselves or feeling defensive. You’re more like to get a surly ‘nothing’ response, especially if your child is a teenager!
“Make sure that children know that feeling anxious, sad, or frustrated is normal. Give them coping mechanisms and an open avenue for conversation, knowing that there will be no judgement from you. Normalise speaking about mental health and wellbeing, to remove any taboos and make it easier for them to open up to you.
“We’ve all been children and can all remember the dread we felt at one time or another. Cast your mind back to your younger days whilst keeping in mind just how much societal pressures have changed. Having a parental role model is key to helping children grow and mature in a healthy way, able to get through whatever life may throw at them.”
