Being at home for an excessive amount of time can be draining and mentally taxing. More specifically, being at home with children on a more consistent basis can also increase the parent’s chance of experiencing mental exhaustion. Being at home all the time and adjusting to new routines can be just as mentally exhausting for children.
Just like parents, children are now worried about what their futures will look like and are struggling with how to handle the many different emotions they may be experiencing. Dr. Wendy Schiff, Department faculty in Clinical Psychology, believes that both parents and children can benefit from having a healthy discussion about mental health.
According to Dr. Schiff, “It is normal for both parents and children to feel anxious about the new changes that are happening, and it can be very easy for their mental health to be neglected during these challenging times.”
While taking on the dual role of being both teacher and provider, many parents are playing the role of “therapist” for their household as well.
“Parents have an important role in helping their children understand how to express the emotions they may be experiencing,” Dr. Schiff explains.
Although this can be overwhelming for some parents, facilitating these types of conversations it is something that can be achieved.
What can parents do ?
For parents who may be apprehensive about leading this discussion, there are several options that can assist with this conversation. Dr. Schiff suggests, “Parents should share some of the feelings they themselves are having and model healthy ways to cope. They should ask their children about worries or disappointments and take the time to just listen without correcting or changing the subject.”
Parents can also use kid-friendly videos, such as the ones linked below, that help explain the importance of mental health. “Find someone who your child feels comfortable talking to and make sure that relationship is well supported,” Dr. Schiff says. This person could be a sibling, aunt, family friend or someone who you and your child both trust.
If these options aren’t suitable for the needs of the child, then seeking outside help from a reliable source such as a child psychologist may be a better option, if the parents see signs of serious distress.
No matter the approach chosen, the purpose of this conversation is to be impactful, not perfect. Talking about mental health with children is a topic that should be normalized and can ease with practice. To help get the conversation started, resources and tips that can help support in facilitating this conversation have been provided below.
Resources :
Video:
Readings :
Helping Children and Youth Cope – SAMHSA
Podcast :
Better Mental Health For Kids and Parents Podcast
This is Normal : A podcast about youth and mental health
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