Promoting good mental health in your kids
Just on 50% of Australians will experience a diagnoseable mental illness in their lifetime. Not surprisingly these statistics have increased significantly since the start of COVID. The most susceptible age groups are adolescents and young adults. Which means your child may be right in the firing line. Fortunately, there is plenty that you can do to minimise the risks for your child.
Make sure that your kids get enough sleep – its critical for their mental and physical well-being.
Help your kids to get enough exercise – at least an hour a day. Exercise, like sleep, has multiple benefits both physically and mentally, not the least of which is to improve your mood – who wouldn’t want that! It also helps you sleep better (if you don’t do it immediately before bedtime).
Try to provide a space of their own (their own bedroom is ideal). This may not be possible for bigger families but having our own space where we can chill out and reflect without interruption is fantastic for our ability to process our issues and de-stress.
Encourage the things that bring them fun and joy. This may seem obvious but so many kids have so many things in their lives they rarely do things just for fun. Fun and laughter is great for the hormones it releases in the body. Involving yourself in their fun is also good for you and great for your relationship.
Be the person you want your child to be. The behaviours that you model have so much more influence over your children than anything you ever say. Time and again I have seen parents that can’t understand why their child is so anxious without recognising that they model that way of living to their child every day.
Talk, talk, talk. The format is pretty simple – if your child is accustomed to talking to you about all aspects of life, they will probably talk to you when they are struggling. If you don’t have those well established lines of communication they will probably just try to battle through on their own – a recipe for disaster.
Help them to help others. Many (including myself) believe the 2 fundamentals of a positive life are relationships and purpose. Doing stuff for other people just because you can is a wonderful habit to get into for your mental well-being.
If you’re really concerned about their mental health there are a number of organisations you or your kids can reach out to, including Lifeline and headspace. Help, encourage and support them to seek extra help when needed.
If you have any questions, you can book a time to have a call on our website, it’s completely free.