Talking to Youth About Mental Health
When young people face challenges, it can be hard to know what is going on and how to help.
Having a conversation is a great place to start. It lets them know they don’t have to deal with challenges on their own. You don’t need to have all the answers. Being willing to listen and being open, curious and compassionate are what matter the most.
Tips for starting a conversation
- Ask how things have been going for your child lately. What’s been good? Is there anything that has been worrying them?
- Use everyday language to talk about the changes you’ve seen with them – not as “symptoms” or “mental health challenges”. For example: “I’ve noticed that you haven’t really been going out much lately.” The goal is to listen, and try to understand what has led to the changes you’ve noticed
- Talk while doing an activity they enjoy, like going for a drive, playing a sport or doing a project together. This can make it easier for your child to talk about personal troubles
- Ask them what they would like to do, or think they need. This is a great opportunity to help them learn how to solve problems
- When it comes time to work on finding a way to solve the problem, make it something you can do together. If your youth can take the lead, support them in doing so
- Remind them how much you care about them and that you are there if they want to talk at any point
If your child isn’t ready to talk, don’t force them. Consider others in your community they may be open to talking to, such as friends, family, teammates or a mental health professional.
Resources for youth mental health
If you’re looking for more resources on talking about mental health with youth, check out:
- Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Talking to youth about mental health
- Resources from Family Smart
- Foundry BC – Talk with someone