This Mental Health week, #GetReal about how you feel.. Name it, Don’t numb it! Each day focuses on a topic:
Monday – Mental Health Check-in
Tuesday – Mental Health During Covid
Wednesday – Making Social Connections
Thursday – Coping with Overwhelming Feelings
Friday – Self-Care (Kahoot game included!)
Promoting Good Mental Health
The love and support that is provided through a strong relationship with your child/teen can have a positive impact on their mental health. It can even reduce the chances of your child experiencing mental health problems as they move towards adulthood.
Here are some ways that caregivers can assist in promoting their child/teen’s mental health and wellbeing:
- Encourage them to talk about feelings with you. It’s important for your child to feel they don’t have to go through things on their own, and that you can work together to find solutions to problems.
- Deal with problems as they arise, rather than letting them build up.
- Show that you’re interested in what’s happening in your child’s life.
- Praise their efforts (not only the end results) and value their ideas.
- Talk to trusted family members, friends, or other parents/caregivers if you have any concerns. If you feel you need more help, speak to your doctor or another health professional.
- Physical health is a big part of mental health. To help your child stay emotionally and physically healthy, encourage your child to keep active, develop and maintain healthy eating habits, and get lots of regular sleep.
Encouraging Children/Teens to Use Positive Strategies
As a parent/caregiver, how you react to your child/teen when they show a certain behaviour can either reinforce or discourage that behaviour. If you notice your child/teen using a positive skill or strategy to cope with difficult situations, we would want to reinforce and encourage the practice so they continue to master these new skills. Here are some ways parents/guardians can reinforce their child/teen and let them know that you see they are working hard:
- Praise your child for using their new skills and strategies and label what exactly you liked. Examples: “I like how you stayed calm when your sister was getting on your nerves.”
“Thank you for joining us for game night even though you were feeling nervous.”
- Use nonverbal cues to communicate to your child that you like what they are doing. This can include looking at your child/teen and smiling or nodding, being aware of your facial expressions, and using affirming body language.
- Make time for you and your child to do a special activity alone together. Having a parent’s/guardian’s full, undivided attention can be very reinforcing!
- Give your child/teen a small reward when they do something that you know was really difficult for them. These small rewards can be choosing a favourite meal for dinner, picking which movie to watch together, or having extra screen time.
- Hugs and high fives can go a long way!
- Practice everyday mental health practices at home.
Additional Resources
If you believe your child might be experiencing some mood-related behaviours and symptoms, we recommend taking a look at the following resources. If you feel you need more help, you can also speak to your child’s doctor or another health professional.
Anxiety & Stress:
Parenting Support:
COVID-19 Mental Health Resources: