Minimising my child’s mental health issues

How do I minimise the chances of my children suffering mental health issues?

Recently I posted an article that detailed the alarming statistics regarding mental health issues in young people in Australia. Clearly no parent would want to see their child suffer through those afflictions. The good news is you can help. The research is very clear; the stronger, the more positive the bonds between parent and child the more insulated against such difficulties children are. I don’t think that would surprise anybody. The better the relationship between parent and child, the happier, more grounded and more positive children tend to be. They are more resilient in times of stress, partly because of the help their parents provide and partly because of the security that accompanies the knowledge that their parents will support them no-matter what.

The question is then, how do I develop those strong bonds? 

The first thing is, make sure your actions consistently convey how important your child is to you. Make the time to spend time doing the things that your child likes to do together. Have some time daily (it only needs to be a short time) that the pair of you do something enjoyable together. Talk to them like you would a friend. Find out all of their favourite things, the things they don’t like and why, their friends and why they like them, what they are enjoying or not enjoying at school. The more interested you are in their lives, the more interested they will be and that is important for their mental well-being.

Oh, and if you can – start early.

I have met countless parents who try to be a part of their teenagers’ worlds, only to be shunned. That is normal. It is part of the passage of child to adult that they separate themselves somewhat from the family group in order to establish their independent identity. It is a good thing, but it does make it a difficult time to be improving communications and relationships. Not impossible, just more difficult.

If you want to know how to improve relationships with your teenager or how to establish the kind of relationship when they are young that will minimise trauma when they are older, click here to book a free 15 minute, no-obligation phone call within which I am happy to give you the very best of advice I can for your situation. It may be that is all you need to make a huge difference and, if that was the case, I would be delighted.

It is the reason I do what I do.