Talking About Mental Health

Guide to Talking About Mental Health with Your Child

Discussing mental health with your child is important. Here’s a guide to help you:

Find the Right Time: Choose a quiet time when you and your child can talk without distractions or rush.
Be Open: Start by expressing your concern in a caring way. Let them know you’re there to listen without judgment.
Use Simple Language: Explain mental health using words your child can understand. Compare it to physical health, like how we take care of our bodies, we also need to care of our feelings.
Ask Open-ended Questions: Encourage your child to share by asking questions that don’t have simple yes or no answers. For example, “Can you tell me more about how you’ve been feeling?”
Be Patient: Give your child time to express themselves. Don’t rush the conversation. Show that you’re willing to listen.
Validate Their Feelings: Let them know it’s okay to feel the way they do. Acknowledge their emotions without judgment.
Assure Your Support: Reassure your child that you’re there to help. Offer to find a professional to talk to if needed and let them know they’re not alone.
Stay Calm: Keep the conversation calm and open. If your child senses your understanding and support, they may feel more comfortable sharing.

Remember, discussing mental health is a positive step, and your child needs your support.

Guide for Talking About Mental Health with Your Parent or Caregiver

Talking to your parent or caregiver about how you’re feeling might seem scary. It’s important to get the support you need, and parents or caregivers can help. Here’s a guide to help you talk to your parent or caregiver about your mental health.

Choose the Right Time: Find a time when your parent is relaxed and not busy, so you both have time to talk without any rush.
Be Honest: Start by saying how you’ve been feeling lately. For instance, you could say, “I’ve been feeling sad,” or “I’ve been having trouble focusing.”
Explain What You Need: Tell your parent what kind of help or support you think you need. You might say, “I think I need to talk to someone about my feelings,” or “I need help dealing with stress.” If you don’t know what would help, it is OK to say that too.
Use “I” Statements: Talk about your own feelings and experiences by starting sentences with “I.” For example, “I feel overwhelmed,” or “I’m having trouble sleeping.”
Be Patient: Your parent might need time to understand. Be patient and give them a chance to listen and respond.
Ask for Help: If it’s hard to start, ask your parent for help directly. You might say, “I need your help talking about something that’s been bothering me.”
Know Who Else You Can Talk To: If your parent or caregiver doesn’t seem to understand or help, you can try talk to another trusted adult, like a teacher, school counselor, another relative, or family friend.
Remember You’re Not Alone: It’s okay to talk about your feelings, and you’re not alone. Many people feel this way, and asking for help is a brave thing to do.

Talking to your parent or caregiver about how you’re feeling is important. Be patient, be honest, and know that your feelings matter.

Guide for Talking About Mental Health with A Friend

Talking to a friend about mental health can be challenging, but it’s important. Here’s a guide to help you share with a friend:

Pick a Good Time: Find a quiet and comfortable time to talk when you both can focus without interruptions.
Be Honest and Keep it Simple: Start by saying, “I’ve been feeling (share your feelings), and I wanted to talk to you about it.”
Use “I” Statements: Share your feelings with statements like, “I’ve been struggling with (mention the concern) lately.”
Ask for Their Support: Let your friend know how they can support you. It could be just listening or being there when you need someone to talk to.
Be Clear About Your Needs: If there’s something specific you need from them, like understanding or patience, express it openly.
Explain It’s Okay to Talk About It: Say that you want to talk about it and that it’s okay to discuss mental health. Let them know you trust them.
Give Them Time to Respond: Your friend might need a moment to process. Be patient and let them respond when they’re ready.
Reassure Them: If your friend seems unsure, reassure them that you’re sharing because you trust them, and it’s not their job to “fix” everything.

Remember, sharing with a friend is a brave step, and it’s okay to ask for support when you need it.