Talking About Mental Health With Kids

[Shree]

I know a lot of families where they make “feelings check-ins” as a part of dinner conversations.
How do you encourage emotional openness in your home?

 

[Nomad]

When my father had depression, he never talked about his mental health. However, we kids knew something was not right. Since he had experienced mental health issues, when he say some unusual behavior in his kids, he took them to the psychiatrist. His own experience helped him to understand his kids better. My kids are very young but I am prepared to talk about mental health issues when they grow up

 

[Jayson]

I was raised to avoid that sort of talk. However, though, I would encourage kids to go to church and find God. In that case, they can discover some inner strength. Inner-strength I didn't have at their age.

 

[ganzua69]

It is important to talk about mental health from an early age, but I don't know if children are ready yet to understand these concepts, so it can be attempted, but it will be difficult to reach something deep like when they are teenagers or are reaching adulthood. At that stage and age, it is easier to explain to them about mental health because they are definitely able to talk about it.